Mycteria cinerea
The Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea) is an elegant, large wading bird, immediately recognizable by its striking milky-white plumage, which gives the species its evocative name. Standing approximately 90-100 cm tall with a wingspan of 110-120 cm and weighing 2-2.5 kg, its distinctive features include a bare, yellow facial skin patch and a long, yellowish-tipped bill. In flight, the contrast between its snow-white body and glossy black primary and secondary flight feathers is a breathtaking sight...
Primarily inhabits coastal and freshwater wetlands, including mangroves, estuaries, tidal mudflats, freshwater swamps, and rice paddies, typically at low elevations.
Feeds predominantly on fish, including catfish, snakeheads, and other small to medium-sized species, captured by tactile probing in shallow water. They also consume frogs, crustaceans, and large aquatic insects when available.
Milky Storks are diurnal and highly gregarious birds, often foraging and roosting in communal groups, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. Their primary foraging strategy is tacto-location, where they wade in shallow water with their bill partially submerged and slightly open, sweeping it side to...
The Milky Stork's current range is largely restricted to Southeast Asia, primarily found in fragmented populations across the Malay Peninsula (Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore) and the larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi). Significant breeding colonies persist in protected are...
Endangered
- The Milky Stork's bare facial skin can change color, becoming more vibrant yellow or orange during the breeding season. - Unlike many birds, Milky Storks primarily use their sense of touch (tacto-location) to find food, sweeping their partially open bill through the water. - They are one of onl...