Lesser Adjutant
Leptoptilos javanicus
NTNear Threatened
- Family
- Storks (Ciconiidae)
- Order
- Ciconiiformes
Overview
The lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Like other members of its genus, it has a bare neck and head. It is however more closely associated with wetland habitats where it is solitary and is less likely to scavenge than the related greater adjutant. It is a widespread species found from India through Southeast Asia.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to see it
Destination guides featuring this bird
Nepal
Chitwan National Park
Sal forest, tall grassland and braided rivers in the Terai: the richest lowland birding in Nepal.
- JJanuary: Good
- FFebruary: Best
- MMarch: Best
- AApril: Best
- MMay: Poor or no data
- JJune: Poor or no data
- JJuly: Poor or no data
- AAugust: Poor or no data
- SSeptember: Poor or no data
- OOctober: Good
- NNovember: Good
- DDecember: Good
Nepal
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Floodplain grassland and the Koshi barrage: Nepal's best wetland birding and a Ramsar site.
- JJanuary: Best
- FFebruary: Best
- MMarch: Good
- AApril: Good
- MMay: Poor or no data
- JJune: Poor or no data
- JJuly: Poor or no data
- AAugust: Poor or no data
- SSeptember: Poor or no data
- OOctober: Good
- NNovember: Best
- DDecember: Best
Range and habitat
India and Sri Lanka to southern China, Indochina, and Indonesia.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Lesser adjutant
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
