Asian Openbill Stork
This distinctive stork is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. I saw it for the first time during my 2014 trip to India. They are quite common around any watering hole. They feed on snails, the gap between the bills has nothing to do with grabbing or opening snails. Apparently this gap doesn't exist on juveniles and only opens up with age. This photo was taken while sitting on a dinghy. No motor boat is allowed in this Oxbow Lake formed by the river Ganges; this provides a nice quiet area for all kinds of migratory birds. Chupi Char, Purbasthali, West Bengal, India
Asian Openbill Stork
This distinctive stork is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. I saw it for the first time during my 2014 trip to India. They are quite common around any watering hole. They feed on snails, the gap between the bills has nothing to do with grabbing or opening snails. Apparently this gap doesn't exist on juveniles and only opens up with age. This photo was taken while sitting on a dinghy. No motor boat is allowed in this Oxbow Lake formed by the river Ganges; this provides a nice quiet area for all kinds of migratory birds. Chupi Char, Purbasthali, West Bengal, India