Singapore - Storks (1 Viewer)

[ccamarote]

I saw these storks on a trip to Singapore in September 2023. I believe photo 4427 below of the bird in flight is the milky stork. however i am unsure about the bird in the water in 4808, is this a painted stork with no pink visible? The wings seem to suggest painted over milky but i am not too familiar with the species. thank you!

 

[THE_FERN]

I read that there are hybrids in Singapore. The second bird (08) here looks washed out for painted and perhaps that's why

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

I saw these storks on a trip to Singapore in September 2023. I believe photo 4427 below of the bird in flight is the milky stork. however i am unsure about the bird in the water in 4808, is this a painted stork with no pink visible? The wings seem to suggest painted over milky but i am not too familiar with the species. thank you!

Both species have been introduced to Singapore and hybridise extensively see Milky Stork.

1st birds looks OK for Milky with exception you cannot see the entire underwing coverts (see SBP criteria), 2nd bird lacks pink as you say but also lacks black on the breast so possibly a hybrid.

I am not familiar with hybrids but for examples see https://ebird.org/species/x00729?siteLanguage=en_GB

Welcome to Birdforum ccamarote!

Grahame

 

[ccamarote]

Thank you Both. And thank you Grahame for the links, the SBP page information helps greatly. I agree the second photo is difficult, there might even be a slight pink in the coverts but its hard to tell. I think based on those criteria the hybrid makes the most sense.