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: Vagrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Featured reports: Mar 2022
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.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Asian Openbill. Retrieved on June 2, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/asian-openbill.