Painted Stork

This year also, Stork with bright pink feathers, did not disappoint me and I was able to spot the same at Sukhna Lake in the last week of January 2022. I am happy that Painted Stork is now a part of my list for the Winter Visitor to the City Beautiful, Chandigarh, that is growing day by day.

Storks are amazing birds that are full of surprises. Painted stork wings are a work of art, predominantly the pink feathers are captivating! Do you know why they are called painted storks? This name was actually given due to their pink feathers! These water birds eat an ample amount of carotenoid-filled food, like fish. An orangish red pigment found in this food (beta carotene) results in the bright pink feathers of these birds. Though painted storks are spotted in various environments their most preferred habitat is found in freshwater wetlands.  

I am also sharing one of my favorite picture of Painted Stork taken at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary at Mysore in the March 2020