Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Painted Stork
Mycteria leucocephala
Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) — Storks of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) is a member of the Ciconiidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 3.2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Ciconiiformes
- Family Ciconiidae Storks
- Genus Mycteria
- Species leucocephala
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3.2 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ciconiidae
- Order
- Ciconiiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Painted Stork hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Painted Stork is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) is a species of bird in the Ciconiidae family, part of the order Ciconiiformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India and se Asia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3.2 kg, with a wing length of about 47.4 cm and a tail of around 18.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Painted Stork?
The Painted Stork is a very large bird that weighs around 3.2 kg.
Where does the Painted Stork live?
The Painted Stork is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India and se Asia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Painted Stork belong to?
The Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) belongs to the Ciconiidae family, in the order Ciconiiformes.
What does the Painted Stork eat?
The Painted Stork hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Painted Stork migrate?
The Painted Stork is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Painted Stork endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Painted Stork make?
1 real field recording of the Painted Stork — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Painted Stork's range?
The Painted Stork has a mapped global range of about 1.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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