Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans)

OTHER NAMES: Asian Openbill Stork
Latin Etymology: Anastomus ("with wide open mouth") oscitans ("yawning")

Large flock of Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) at Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 1.3-8.9kg  /  Height: 68cm  /  Wingspan: 148cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Asian Openbill is certainly a distinctive looking bird - the namesake beak is unique to the family - a gap between the two mandibles gives a distinctive profile and is believed to be used to help them feed on aquatic snails - their main prey source.  They are fairly common within their range, and near appropriate habitat and in Prek Toal they proved to be abundant with hundreds seen.

Related Species:
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ciconidae
Genus: Anastomus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ចង្កៀលខ្យង ("Snail scissors")

A fairly common, and locally abundant resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Siem Reap and Prek Toal

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto