Painted Stork

Factual Description:-

Common Name:- Painted Stork

Scientific Name:- Mycteria leucocephala

# Painted Stork is a large wading bird which belongs in the storks family. 

# Painted Storks are only found nearer to wetlands, water bodies. 

# Their name is because of their colorful (pink) feathers. 

# Painted Stork has a long, yellow-orange bill, an orange face, and pink legs. It has a ling neck that it holds outstretching in flight. 

# Adults have mostly white plumage, with bright pink near the tail and a black band across the chest. 

# Males and females look alike, though males tend to have a larger body and bill. 

# Breeding season occurs from August to October in the north of its range and November to March in the south. 

# Painted Stork eats fish, reptiles, frogs and crustaceans. It walks slowly in shallow water with its bill partly open in the water, groping for prey. 

 # They forage in flocks in shallow waters along rivers or lakes. They immerse their half open beaks in water and sweep them from side to side and snap up their prey of small fish that are sensed by touch. 

# Painted Storks are not migratory birds but only make short distance movements in some parts of its range in response to food and breeding. 

# IUCN status of Painted Stork is "Near Threatened".

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Cattle Egret

Factual description of Cattle Egret:-

  Common name:- Cattle Egret

  Scientific name:- Bubulcus ibis

#  Cattle Egret are cosmopolitan bird species, belongs to heron family. 

#  Cattle Egret is a stocky heron with a 88-96 cm wingspan, the bird is 46-56 cm long and weighs 270-512 g. 

#  Cattle Egret has a relatively short thick neck, sturdy bill, and a hunched posture. The non-breeding adult has mainly white plumage, a yellow bill and greyish-yellow legs. 

#  During breeding season, adults develop orange-buff plumes on the back, breast and crown, and the bill, legs and irises become bright red for a brief period prior to pairing. 

#  The sexes are similar, but the male is marginally larger and has slightly longer breeding plumes than the females. 

# Cattle Egret are opportunistic feeders, they follow the large animals or farm machines around to catch insects.

#  Cattle Egret are known to come in from far places to catch insects fleeing from a fire. 

#  Cattle Egret are known to greatly reduce the number of flies that bothers cattle by pecking off their skin, that is the reason, cattle egret are found in a close relationship with the large cattles. 

#   IUCN status of the Cattle Egret is ''Least Concern". 

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