Description:

A medium-sized white stork with black rear scapulars, feathered head with black line through dark eye, and straight bill. Mainly white, with black flight feathers and striking red bill and legs. Generally has cleaner black-and-white appearance. Juvenile is similar to adult but with brown greater coverts and duller brownish-red bill and legs.

Distribution:

Rare passage migrant through major waterways and lakes all across Gilgit-Baltistan. A species of open country prefers freshwater or saline lakes, marshes and rivers, with nearby damp grasslands or cultivations. Up to 3500m during migration.

Behavior:

Their foraging is unspecialized, involving strutting about, locating prey by sight and snatching it up in the bill, occasionally after a very brief chase. Diet is very varied but entirely animal. Essentially opportunistic, taking whatever large invertebrates and small vertebrates are available.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of White Stork in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of White Stork

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.