Mycteria cinerea

(Raffles, 1822)

Vernacular names
English : Milky stork
French : Tantale blanc

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Pelecaniformes
Family : Ciconiidae
Notes : No subspecies known

Identification
Adults can grow to a size of 1 m. Plumage almost entirely white except for black flight feathers (usually concealed when not flying). Pink-red legs. Naked dirty pink face, often with black areas. Long dull yellow to bright yellow bill.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in southeast Asia as isolated populations in Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia and central-eastern Sumatra (Indonesia). Lives in coastal areas, flooded forests, mangroves, marshes and rice paddies.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : ENDANGERED
CITES : Appendix I
Status : The species is undergoing very steep declines because of hunting at its breeding grounds and habitat loss. Urgent conservation measures needed.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Zoo Negara (Malaysia), Zoo Melaka (Malaysia), Zoo Taiping (Malaysia), Penang Bird Park (Malaysia), Jurong Bird Park (Malaysia), Wild (Singapore)

 

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