The Woolly-necked Stork is a large avian, standing 85 cm tall. The species appears black, except for its woolly white neck and white lower belly. Also ‘adorned’ in a glossy dark green and purple hue, juveniles of the species are duller versions of adults of the same ilk.

This stork prefers natural wetlands such as rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and freshwater, and peat swamp forests, while it also leverages artificial habitats -  paddy fields, flooded pastures, cultivated fields, golf courses, and roads in sugar cane fields and plantations (particularly when these are flooded).

Woolly-necked Stork!

The Woolly-necked Stork generally keeps away from forests, but is on occasion sighted in light woodlands or forest clearings.

The bird is primarily a carnivore, feeding on fish, frogs, toads, snakes, lizards, large insects, crabs, molluscs and marine invertebrates.

Previously called the White-necked Stork, the Woolly-necked Stork is a predominantly sedentary species.

Sauntering on the Kabini Banks?:)

In India, this stork generally breeds during the rains (between July and September in the southern regions of the country and from December to March in the north).

This season, you can spot them in large flocks dotting the Kabini. banks. Recall an encounter with the bird at Kabini?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 at 3:21 pm and is filed under Birds. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.