Leptoptilos is a genus of very large tropical storks, commonly known as adjutants. The name means thin (lepto) feather (ptilos). Two species are resident breeders in southern Asia, and the marabou stork is found in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Leptoptilos
Image: Leptoptilos crumenifer 00
Image: Lesser Adjutant ,Yala National Park
Image: Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius by Dr. Raju Kasambe (1)
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family called Ciconiidae, and make up the order Ciconiiformes. Ciconiiformes previously included a number of other families, such as herons and ibises, but those families have been moved to other orders.
Stork
European white stork in a nest in Bisag, Croatia
Mycteria storks, like this yellow-billed stork, have sensitive bills that allow them to hunt by touch
Lesser adjutants will forage in marine habitats, unlike most storks