File:Painted stork in nest - DPLA - 5fb6e68f13796ecf0944a16786ba978a.jpg

35 mm slide; color. Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Aves; Order: Ciconiiformes; Family: Ciconiidae; Genus: Mycteria; Genus species: Mycteria leucocephala. Animal characteristics: Head-Body Length: 93-100 cm; Identification: The painted stork is mostly white with black bars across its chest. The upperwings are black with white barring, and the bill is yellow. This stork has a bare face that can be orange, yellow, or red. Its legs are red in color; Habitat: Wetlands; Diet: Carnivore: fish, frogs, snakes; Reproduction: Painted storks nest anywhere from August to January, varying by the local conditions. They breed in heronries. Both sexes care for their 3-5 chicks after they hatch; Social Structure: The painted stork lives in small parties; but where feeding is abundant, they sometimes assemble in large flocks; Behavior: These birds catch prey by walking through shallow water, immersing their open bill under water. They then swing their head side to side in a sweeping motion; Status: No special status; Interesting Facts: In common with some other large storks, the painted stork has the strange habit of 'whitewashing' its legs, while at rest, by squirting excreta over them.