ANIMAL: Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala Type of Animal: Stork Habitat: Floodplains, wetlands, marshes, ponds Location(s): Found in much of India & Sri Lanka plus a few smaller pockets in S.E. Asia along w/ easternmost China Appearance: White w/ black side/under feathers & pink back feathers plus reddish area around eye & yellow bill. Rather tall bird. Male larger than female. Younger birds often brownish w/ more downy plumage & woolly neck. Food/Diet: Fish, eels, frogs, snails, crustaceans, snakes, lizards, young turtles, crocodilian hatchlings, hatchlings of large lizards, insects, shellfish such as gastropods & bivalves Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding from zoos, wildlife parks, & breeding centers Lifestyle: Usually found in large flocks, sometimes up to 200 birds. These birds form large colonies in breeding season. Additional Info: Called: Male-Cock Female-Hen Young-Chick Group-Flock/Colony Weight: Male-7 lbs Female-6.6 lbs Gestation: 30-35 days Height: Male-3 ft Female-2.7 ft Body Length: 4.11-5.3 ft Life Span: 20-25 years, up to 28 years in captivity Main predators of adults are pythons, monitor lizards, wolves, dholes, crocodilians, tigers, leopards, feral dogs, jungle cats, & hyenas. Chicks preyed on by feral cats, jackals, macaques, mongooses, & raptors. Crows prey on newborn chicks. Male storks gather most of the sticks to build the nest. Develops full adult plumage at 3 years old. They often nest in colonies w/ other stork species, pelicans, ibises, & herons. Young storks fed partly regurgitated food by parents (favorite food-fish). More nocturnal in areas of human disturbance but can be found during the day too. They walk slowly along water when searching for prey. Fun Fact(s): While young storks call loudly, they’re practically voiceless by 18 months. Often breed in same tree year after year. Colonies have been formed near villages.
