Leptoptilos dubius
The Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) is an enormous and critically endangered stork, instantly recognizable by its imposing stature, massive wedge-shaped bill, and bare, dirty-pink head and neck. Standing 140-150 cm tall with a wingspan of 2.5 meters and weighing 8-10 kg, it is one of the largest flying birds in the world. A unique and prominent feature is its large gular pouch, a bare, fleshy sac hanging from the front of its neck, which plays a role in thermoregulation and possibly dis...
Found in large wetlands, marshes, agricultural lands, and open grasslands, often in proximity to human settlements, refuse dumps, or slaughterhouses; typically occurs in low-lying plains.
Primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion, offal, and refuse from human settlements, but also an opportunistic predator of fish, frogs, large insects, reptiles, small mammals, and birds.
Diurnal in activity, the Greater Adjutant is a skilled soaring bird, often seen circling high on thermals with vultures, using its broad wings to conserve energy. It is largely gregarious, often gathering in groups at prime feeding sites or roosting communally in large trees. Foraging involves sl...
The Greater Adjutant's historical range once spanned a vast area from Pakistan eastward across South and Southeast Asia, reaching Vietnam and Sumatra. Today, its breeding populations are severely fragmented and largely confined to two main strongholds: Assam and Bihar states in India, and the Pre...
Critically Endangered
- Known as the 'Hargila' or 'bone swallower' in Assam, India, reflecting its role as a crucial scavenger. - It is one of the largest storks globally, capable of standing over a meter tall with a wingspan exceeding 2.5 meters. - The prominent gular pouch hanging from its neck is believed to aid in...