Greater Adjutant Stork
- The Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius)
- Huge bird 145-165 cm high. Average length is 1.36 m and the average win span is about 250 cm (8ft. 2”). Weight is about 8 to 11 Kg in captivity. On an average, larger than other stork species.
- In the breeding season the pouch and neck turn bright orange and upper thighs turn reddish. Sexes are indistinguishable in the field. The pouch is inflatable and connects to the air passage and not to the digestive system.
- Listed as endangered in the I.U.C.N. Red list.
- Breed during winters and nest is a large platform of twigs on the branches of some tall trees.
- It is omnivorous and although mainly a scavenger, it may prey on frogs, insects, birds and reptiles.
- The bare head and neck are an adaptation to the feeding behavior. (Main diet being carrion).
©Srimaa Communication
Acknowledgements-Dr. Yashpal Singh, Mrs. Neena Singh, Mr. Rajesh Bedi, Manoj Kumar Yadav