Lesser Adjutant

Lesser Adjutant

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.

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, Nov 2024, Dec 2024, Jan 2025, Feb 2025, Mar 2025

Lesser Adjutant at SBWR. Photo credit: Solomon Anthony
Lesser Adjutant at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Lesser Adjutant at SBWR. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Lesser Adjutant at SBWR. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Lesser Adjutant at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Lesser Adjutant at Western Catchment Area. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Lesser Adjutant at SBWR. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Lesser Adjutant at Parit Jawa Photo credit: Solomon Anthony
Lesser Adjutant at Parit Jawa. Photo credit: Solomon Anthony
Lesser Adjutant at SBWR. 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 (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 April 26, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/lesser-adjutant.

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