Asian Openbilled Stork

I've never noticed this bird in large numbers around the Samudram Lake (south of Arunachala and popular location for migratory waterbirds). But occasionally spot small groups of the Openbill. This season have spotted this bird on several occasions visiting for a few days, but none have been actually residing at the Samudram this season.

The Asian Openbill is a large wading bird of the Stork family. It is white or greyish white, with black on the wings. It can sometimes be confused with other Storks, except for its unique black bill with narrow open gap.

Openbills at Samudram
Indian Spot Billed Ducks background

One of the commonest Storks throughout India. It is both a resident breeder and also migratory. Sexes are alike and the Asian Openbilled flocks singly or in groups at jheels and marshes.

Openbills foraging for food at Samudram

Openbill at Takeoff

This bird is broad-winged and soaring, relying on moving between thermals of hot air for sustained flight. Like all storks, it flies with its neck outstretched. When on ground it walks slowly and steadily.

Openbill in flight

The origin of the bill is unknown but believed to have originated with the opening of thick shells of snails found on marshes which forms a large part of its food in season. The Openbill also eats frogs, crabs, large insects.

The bird gets its name (Openbill)
from its peculiarly shaped bill

Juvenile Bird

Nesting season mostly between November and Marsh in South India. This bird breeds in colonies amongst mixed flocks of cormorants, egrets, painted storks etc.

Its nest is a platform of twigs in a tree with a central depression lined with leaves. It lays around 2-4 white eggs.