Asian Open-billed Stork

By Charlie • December 24, 2008 • No comments yet

The Asian Open-billed Stork Anastomus oscitans (sometimes referred to as simply the Asian Openbill) is a resident breeder around inland wetlands in tropical southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to Southeast Asia. These three birds were photographed at Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, southern India in December

Like all storks it flies with its neck outstretched when the ‘open’ mandibles, which do not meet except at the tip, can easily be seen. Non-breeding adults - such as the bird in the last photo - have the white of the plumage replaced by off-white.

asian open-billed stork vedanthangal bird sanctuary

non-breeding asian open-billed stork vedanthangal bird sanctuary

Photographs copyright Charlie Moores

Tags: chennai, india, storks, vedanthangal

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Charlie

Charlie works for an airline and has birded all over the world for twenty years. He wants to be a writer, and thinks no-one would believe his life could be so charmed if he didn't take photos of as many of the birds he sees as possible. Blogging with 10,000 Birds fits his aims, needs, and insecurities perfectly. Really - do birders get much more fortunate than this?

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