Asian Openbill
Anastomus oscitans
The Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) is a common stork found in 15 countries, weighing about 1.1 kg. The Asian openbill or Asian openbill stork is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae.
About the Asian Openbill
The Asian openbill or Asian openbill stork 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. Adults have a gap between the arched upper mandible and recurved lower mandible which is thought to be an adaptation that aids in the handling of snails, their main prey. Young birds are born without this gap. Although resident within their range, they make long distance movements in response to weather and food availability.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Asian Openbill?
- 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. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Asian Openbill?
- The Asian Openbill is a large sized bird weighing about 1.1 kg.
- Where can you see an Asian Openbill?
- The Asian Openbill occurs in 15 countries, including India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Cambodia.
- What birds look similar to an Asian Openbill?
- The Asian Openbill is most easily confused with the African Openbill.
- Is the Asian Openbill endangered?
- The Asian Openbill is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Asian Openbill for real
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