Scientific Name: Leptoptilos javanicus
Malay Name: Burung-Botak Kecil
Chinese Name: 秃鹳
Range: Found from Indian subcontinent, China, mainland Southeast Asia to Indonesia.
Taxonomy: Monotypic.
Size: 122.5-129 cm
Identification: Large bird with mostly horn-coloured bill, pale forehead, vinous-tinged head-sides (redder when breeding), yellowish neck, glossy black upperparts, white underparts and dark greyish legs. Shows all blackish wings with white patch on inner underwing coverts in flight.
Habitat: Freshwater wetlands, mangroves and sometimes mudflats.
Behaviour/Ecology: Feeds mainly on fish, frogs, reptiles and large invertebrates. Usually solitary except during breeding season when they form loose colonies.
Local Status: Uncommon resident
Conservation Status: Near Threatened (BirdLife International 2023)
Location: Western Catchment Area, Sungei Buloh, Turuk Track and Punggol Barat.
- Bird List Revision for May 2019 (Revisions)
- Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)
- Lesser Adjutants apparently nest building at Sungei Buloh (Science)
- Broadbills in Singapore (Science)
Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, May 2022, Jun 2022, Jul 2022, Aug 2022, Sep 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 2023, Apr 2023, May 2023, Jun 2023, Jul 2023, Aug 2023, Sep 2023, Oct 2023, Nov 2023, Dec 2023, Jan 2024, Feb 2024, Mar 2024, Apr 2024, May 2024, Jun 2024, Jul 2024, Aug 2024, Sep 2024, Oct 2024
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Lesser Adjutant)
References:
BirdLife International. (2023). Leptoptilos javanicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T22697713A232128569.en. Accessed on 25 December 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Lesser Adjutant. Retrieved on December 7, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/lesser-adjutant.