Black-necked Stork

Black-necked Srork

        Introduction of Black-necked Stork

    The black-necked stork (Scientific Name :Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) is a tall long-necked wading bird.This bird belongs to the Ciconiidae family. Black-necked Stork has two recognized subspecies. E. a. asiaticus of the Oriental region and E. a. australis of south New Guinea and Australia.

        How to identify Black-necked Stork

   The black necked stork is a tall bird measuring up to 135 cm. When fully outstretched, their wings measure 230 cm from tip to tip. The average black necked stork weighs 4.1 kg
   Adults have a bluish-black head and neck. The top of the head is a coppery-purple. The beak is black. The midsection is white and so are the wings which have a black stripe down the middle. Their legs start out black and become pink at the knees.
   Both the sex are identical.But The females  have yellow iris while the males have brown.
    Juvenile black necked storks look like their parents. The main difference is that they have brown where the adults have black. Juveniles younger than six months have a brownish iris; a distinctly smaller and straighter beak; a fluffy appearance; brown head, neck, upper back, wings and tail; a white belly; and dark legs. Juveniles older than six months have a mottled appearance especially on the head and neck where the iridescence is partly developed; dark-brown outer primaries; white inner primaries that forms a shoulder patch when the wings are closed; a heavy beak identical in size to adults but still straighter; and dark to pale-pink legs.
   The average lifespan of the black necked stork is 30 years.

           Habits and Habitats

    The black necked stork makes a range of calls, mainly a guttural grunt. A dance-like display is  special to this Stork. A pair stalk up to each other face to face. They extend  their wings and flutter the wing tips rapidly and advance their heads until they meet. They then clatter their bills and walk away. The display lasts for a minute and may be repeated several times.
  Black-necked storks are found frequently near freshwater, natural wetland habitats such as lakes, ponds, marshes, flooded grasslands, swamps, rivers and water meadows. If searching for food they may wander into open woodlands, grasslands or flooded agricultural areas.
              Food
  The black necked stork is a carnivore. They feed on fish, amphibians, crustaceans, small water birds and insects. The stork will stand at the water’s edge and impale the prey with their beak. They then pick it up and eat it.
             Distribution
   Black necked storks range across Asia and Australia. In India, the species is widespread in the west, central highlands, and northern Gangetic plains extending east into the Assam valley.

               Breeding and Nesting

    Black-necked Storks make pairs for several years, perhaps for life. In India nest building commences during the peak of the monsoon with most of the nests initiated during September – November. The nest is large as much as 3 to 6 feet across which is made up of sticks, branches and other vegetation, which is placed in a tall tree standing in or near water. Birds are secretive and nest in isolated pairs. There is little courtship, with the exception of some bowing and clapping of bills. The eggs are white and conical and are incubated by both parents. . Breeding season: March to May. Size of the clutch is 2 to 4. The exact incubation period is not known but is expected to be about 30 days. Both parents care for the young. But parents stop feeding the young at the nest after they are about 3 or 4 months old.