{o;o} BiRDiSM : 1 {o;o}
{o;o} LESSER ARJUTANT STORK
LESSER ARJUTANT STORK :
The Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Like other members of its genus, it has a bare neck and head. It is however more closely associated with wetland habitats where it is solitary and is less likely to scavenge than the related Greater Adjutant. It is a widespread species found from India through Southeast Asia to Java.
> Description
A large stork with an upright stance, a bare head and neck without a pendant pounch, it has a length of 87–93 cm (outstretched specimen measurement), weighs about 8.9 kg and stands about 110–120 cm tall[ The only confusable species is the Greater Adjutant, but this species has a straight upper bill edge (culmen) with a paler base and appears slightly trimmer and less hunch-backed. The skullcap is paler and the upper plumage is uniformly dark, appearing almost all black. The nearly naked head and neck have a few scattered hair-like feathers. The upper shank or tibia is grey rather than pink. The belly and undertail are white. Juveniles are a duller version of the adult but have more feathers on the nape. During the breeding season, the face is reddish and the neck is orange. The larger median wing coverts are tipped with copper spots and the inner secondary coverts and tertials have narrow white edging. Like others in the genus, the retract their necks in flight. In flight, the folded neck can appear like the pouch of the Greater Adjutant. Males and females appear similar in plumage but males tend to be larger and heavier billed.
> Distribution and habitat
The Lesser Adjutant tends to be widely dispersed and is very local. It is often found in large rivers and lakes inside well wooded regions. It is found in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia. The largest population is in India in the eastern states of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar. It may occur as a vagrant on the southern edge of Bhutan. They are extremely rare in southern India.
> Behaviour and ecology
The Lesser Adjutant stalks around wetlands feeding mainly on fish, frogs, reptiles and large invertebrates. They rarely feed on carrion. They may also take small birds and rodents particularly during the breeding season. They are solitary except during the breeding season when they form loose colonies. The breeding season is February to May in southern India and November to January in northeastern India The nest is a large platform of sticks placed on a tall tree. The nest diameter is more than a metre and up to a metre deep. The clutch consists of three to four eggs. They are silent but have been noted to clatter their bill, hiss and moan at the nest.
PHOTOGRAPHY : KAUSHIK SINGHA ROY
{o;o} LESSER ARJUTANT STORK
LESSER ARJUTANT STORK :
The Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Like other members of its genus, it has a bare neck and head. It is however more closely associated with wetland habitats where it is solitary and is less likely to scavenge than the related Greater Adjutant. It is a widespread species found from India through Southeast Asia to Java.
> Description
A large stork with an upright stance, a bare head and neck without a pendant pounch, it has a length of 87–93 cm (outstretched specimen measurement), weighs about 8.9 kg and stands about 110–120 cm tall[ The only confusable species is the Greater Adjutant, but this species has a straight upper bill edge (culmen) with a paler base and appears slightly trimmer and less hunch-backed. The skullcap is paler and the upper plumage is uniformly dark, appearing almost all black. The nearly naked head and neck have a few scattered hair-like feathers. The upper shank or tibia is grey rather than pink. The belly and undertail are white. Juveniles are a duller version of the adult but have more feathers on the nape. During the breeding season, the face is reddish and the neck is orange. The larger median wing coverts are tipped with copper spots and the inner secondary coverts and tertials have narrow white edging. Like others in the genus, the retract their necks in flight. In flight, the folded neck can appear like the pouch of the Greater Adjutant. Males and females appear similar in plumage but males tend to be larger and heavier billed.
> Distribution and habitat
The Lesser Adjutant tends to be widely dispersed and is very local. It is often found in large rivers and lakes inside well wooded regions. It is found in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia. The largest population is in India in the eastern states of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar. It may occur as a vagrant on the southern edge of Bhutan. They are extremely rare in southern India.
> Behaviour and ecology
The Lesser Adjutant stalks around wetlands feeding mainly on fish, frogs, reptiles and large invertebrates. They rarely feed on carrion. They may also take small birds and rodents particularly during the breeding season. They are solitary except during the breeding season when they form loose colonies. The breeding season is February to May in southern India and November to January in northeastern India The nest is a large platform of sticks placed on a tall tree. The nest diameter is more than a metre and up to a metre deep. The clutch consists of three to four eggs. They are silent but have been noted to clatter their bill, hiss and moan at the nest.
PHOTOGRAPHY : KAUSHIK SINGHA ROY