A photo of a Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans)
Asian Openbill

Asian Openbill

Anastomus oscitans

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. The Asian openbill stork is predominantly greyish (non-breeding season) or white (breeding season) with glossy black wings and tail that have a green or purple sheen. The name is derived from the distinctive gap formed between the recurved lower and arched upper mandible of the beak in adult birds. Young birds do not have this gap. The cutting edges of the mandible have a fine brush like structure that is thought to give them better grip on the shells of snails. The tail consists of twelve feathers and the preen gland has a tuft. The mantle is black and the bill is horn-grey. At a distance, they can appear somewhat like a white stork or Oriental stork. The short legs are pinkish to grey, reddish prior to breeding. Non-breeding birds have a smoky grey wings and back instead of white. Young birds are brownish-grey and have a brownish mantle. Like other storks, the Asian openbill is a broad-winged soaring bird, which relies on moving between thermals of hot air for sustained flight. They are usually found in flocks but single birds are not uncommon.
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Asian Openbills on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
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Fahiyan Brahma
Wednesday 22 Mar 2023 - 10:51am
India
A photo of a Asian Openbill photographed in  India
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Fahiyan Brahma
Tuesday 21 Mar 2023 - 5:53am
India
A map showing the sighting location
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Shannon Watt
Saturday 11 Mar 2023 - 5:41am
Thailand
A photo of a Asian Openbill photographed in DAV School India
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SUBHI MAHAPATRA
Saturday 25 Feb 2023 - 4:22am
India
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