Lesser Adjudant
In one of my previous posts, I have mentioned that many highly threatened birds can be dull looking, ( See also- Masked Finfoot) but in this post, I shall be talking about a bird that is considered genuinely ugly by many people. Boasting of a height of more than 3 feet and a wingspan of more than 8 feet, this peculiar stork is one of the largest storks in Asia. Also known as the Hair-crested Adjudant, this bird's decreasing population seems more tolerable to many people, than its looks. ..................................................................................... Lesser Adjudant in Gorumara National Park, West Bengal. Photography by: Rudra Dey. Lesser Adjudants are characterized by their bare head, red face and blackish upperwings. They are also often seen in an upright position, unlike that of their cousin, the Greater Adjudant. This bird generally feeds on fish, reptiles, frogs, rodents, large invertebrates and occasionally, carrion. Thes...