Asian Openbill - Wat Mahathat, TH

This large stork has a very unique bill. It has an open bill which is thought to help with their favorite food. The Apple snail. This is very similar to the Limpkin in North America who also feeds mainly on the apple snails of the South-eastern States through South America. These birds are not cousins, as the Limpkin belongs in the crane family rather than with the storks. This bird is a juvenile and hasn't had his bill develop fully with the wide gap. We found him along the shoreline of a pond at Wat Mahathat ruins.