Woolly-necked Stork: Birding in Goa
Woolly-necked Stork Flock at waterbody in Goa
Flock of Woolly-necked Stork by the shallow backwaters of Mandovi river near Merces in Goa during the 2015 summer attracted our attention as bird enthusiasts as they are often sighted solitary or in pairs by the wetlands like backwaters, marshes, rice-fields, flood plains here. This flock consisted of about 15 to 20 birds, which is a rare finding for us. Being a fairly large bird, these Woolly-necked Stork’s were comfortable sharing this small waterbody with flocks of Lesser-whistling Ducks , Purple Swamphen & the Black-headed Ibis (Oriental White Ibis). Slowly wading through shallow waters looking for their prey.
Woolly-necked Stork so called due to their woolly white neck and are also known by alternate names like Bishop Stork or White-necked Stork. It is called Shwethkanta Mahabak in Sanskrit. Its scientific name is Ciconia episcopus, race microscelis.
Woolly-necked Stork is a large wading bird, approximately a meter in height with black colored feathers. Its head and feathers are very interesting with glistening bluish purple pinkish color under the blazing sun light, referred to as iridescence. The neck and underbelly are white, long red legs and a powerful long sharp greyish black bill with reddish tip. Red eyes with nictitating membrane. The nictitating membrane is a transparent or translucent third eyelid, that can be drawn across the eye for protection and to moisten it while maintaining visibility. You can see the opaque looking eye in the bird behind Ibis in the below picture.
Reportedly both genders are similar in appearance & juveniles are duller lacking the iridescence. The species is predominantly carnivorous, its diet consisting of fish, frogs, toads, snakes, lizards, large insects, larvae, crabs, mollusks and marine invertebrates.
The Woolly-necked Stork is a broad winged soaring bird, which relies on moving between thermals of hot air for sustained long distance flight. Like all storks, it flies with its neck outstretched. As soon as disturbed in its safety perimeter, quickly takes-off only to circle over, scan the site and return if it was a false alarm. They were seen soaring to heights above that of Kites/Eagles in the skies, slowly circling to identify the preferred landing site and or fly away in search of new pastures. One of the largest high flying bird, it is safe from the relatively smaller predatory eagles also circling in the skies looking for prey.
The IUCN lists them as vulnerable bird species. However, this widespread tropical species is found breeding from India to Indonesia to Africa. Declining habitat ie water bodies is attributed to the reduction in their numbers over a period of time. Goa has many backwater bodies and shallow marsh lands that provides them essential habitat, a pride for a small state, home to several birds resident and migratory.
It was a nice experience to watch flock of Woolly-necked Stork while exploring Goa hinterlands which is full of pleasant surprises for the nature lovers and bird watchers. Birding in Goa can be a memorable experience for bird photography enthusiasts. Head for hinterlands next time you visit and explore Goa beyond beaches .
You may like to read my travel blogposts on birding & wildlife sanctuaries
- Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
- Bird Photography at Satpura National Park
- Meeting Munna – Rock Star Tiger at Kanha National Park
- 5 Ways to Explore Forests of Satpura
- Jeep Safari at Satpura National Park
- Listen to Kanha National Park speak to me
- Home to Single Horn Rhinos – Kaziranga National Park
- Bandhavgarh National Park – Beyond the Tigers
- History & Life inside Bandhavgarh National Park
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