Painted Stork

The Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), 93-102 cm
Bundala, Dec 2008

Spotted at the Bundala National Park, this bird gave us a wonderful pose for a few moments. A graceful and colorful bird, as its name implies, the painted stork are found close to water bodies in many parts of Sri Lanka. They are found in larger colonies in the protected areas in the dry zone.

Painted Storks at Bundala

We were looking for Flamingos in Bundala when we spotted the Painted Storks. It was a beautiful site as they stood against the lagoon. Painted Storks are seen in India, Sri Lanka and other south Asian countries where they breed. They share their territory with other water birds such as Herons, the Asian Open-bill, Cormorants, etc. Above them on the food chain are Leopards and crocodiles and other carnivorous animals. Painted storks eat fish, frogs and snails. They often flock in groups on leafless trees close to water bodies.

Useful Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_Stork