Asian openbill

Asian openbill
Pair (India)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ciconiidae
Genus: Anastomus
Species:
A. oscitans
Binomial name
Anastomus oscitans
(Boddaert, 1783)
     range

The Asian openbill or Asian openbill stork (Anastomus oscitans) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. This distinctive stork is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is greyish or white with glossy black wings and tail and the adults have a gap between the arched upper mandible and recurved lower mandible. Young birds are born without this gap which is thought to be an adaptation that aids in the handling of snails, their main prey. Although resident within their range, they make long distance movements in response to weather and food availability.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Anastomus oscitans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22697661A93628985. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697661A93628985.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.