Asian Openbill

This species is defined as a Review Species. Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page.

Scientific Name: Anastomus oscitans
Malay Name: Upih-Siput Asia
Chinese Name: 钳嘴鹳

Range:
Found from the Indian subcontinent to mainland Southeast Asia

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 68-81 cm

Identification:
Adult has diagnostic dull yellowish-grey bill with open spaces between mandibles and long pinkish-grey legs. Body is mostly greyish-white with contrasting glossy black flight feathers and tail. Juvenile likes adult but body more brownish grey and bill has no spaces between mandibles.

Habitat: Freshwater marshes, flooded fields and padi fields.

Behaviour/Ecology: A small flock of 6 adults were observed feeding on Golden Apple Snails (an introduced species) at a flooded field along West Camp Road.

Local Status: Very rare non-breeding visitor

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Featured reports: Mar 2022

Past accepted records in our database:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Asian Openbill at West Camp Road. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Asian Openbill at West Camp Road. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Asian Openbill at West Camp Road. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Asian Openbill at West Camp Road. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Asian Openbill at West Camp Road. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Asian Openbill at West Camp Road. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Asian Openbill at West Camp Road. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Asian Openbill)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Anastomus oscitans. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697661A93628985.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.