Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE STORK-LIKE BIRDS

THE STORKS (Family Ciconiidd)

The Adjutants, or Marabou Storks

(Lep-toptilus), are the largest and at the same time the homeliest members of the whole group. They are from forty to sixty inches in length, with an enormous bill, a bare head and neck, and a curious pouch pendent from the chest. This pouch is popularly supposed to be a receptacle for food, but as a matter of fact it has no connection with the esophagus. Another feature of moment is afforded by the under tail-coverts, which are composed of beautiful, soft, downy plumes.

The general color of the bird is ashy gray above, with a green reflection, and pure white below. These birds are true scavengers, feeding largely on carrion but also capturing living prey such as fish, tortoises, and snakes. In India it is a common sight to see them about the streets of the towns, unabashed by the presence of man or dog, and such is its value that it is protected by law in many places.

After satisfying its hunger it seeks repose during the heat of the day, and may often be seen standing for hours with one foot drawn up under its body, or resting on the whole leg, with the feet spread out in front in what appears a very awkward position. They build a large nest on rocky cliffs or occasionally in trees and lay from two to four oval, chalky white eggs. Three species are known, — the African Adjutant (L. crumeniferus), found throughout tropical Africa, the Indian Adjutant (L. dubius) of the Indian peninsula and Indo-Chinese countries, and L. javanicus, widely distributed in the Orient.

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