The painted stork got its name from the strikingly beautiful, rose-pink feathers found near its tail. It is an otherwise white water bird, as big as a vulture, found throughout Indian coasts. They are always seen with their bills open, walking slowly through shallow water. They immerse their bills in water, moving them from side to side while walking. Their legs stir up the water during this process. Can you guess why? It is to flush out hidden fish, if any. In this flurry, the fish gets caught in the storks’ open bills.
These birds build their nests on tall trees, along with other water birds as colonies. The nests are made of sticks. It is lined with stems and leaves of water plants. They are found to perch and roost in trees near water.
The painted stork prefers to stay away from desert regions and high-altitude hills. That is why these are not commonly found in Northeast India. If there is any change in the weather, these birds may sometimes travel short distances. But this is not considered a migration. Outside India, painted storks are found also in China.