African openbill stork makes a rare visit to Kerala’s kole fields 

An African openbill stork that was spotted in the Kanjani Kole fields.
| Photo Credit: SPL

A new bird species – African openbill stork – has been added to Kerala’s rich avian diversity.

Subin K.S., a birdwatcher and wildlife photographer, has observed the African openbill stork in the Kanjani Kole fields, for the first time in Kerala.

While it was previously recorded in Goa in the eBird database, it had not been officially added to India’s bird species due to insufficient studies. However, following a study published in November 2024 issue of the South Asian ornithology journal Indian Birds, the African openbill has now been recognised as part of India’s bird population, bringing the total number of bird species in Kerala to 558, according to birdwatchers.

Mr. Subin, a native of Thrissur, captured the image of the bird as part of a bird survey at Kanjani Kole fields. He is also the coordinator for various biodiversity study-research and citizen science programmes conducted by the environmental organisation, Kole Birders Collective.

The African openbill stork is native to Africa and is rarely seen migrating such long distances. It is another category of the Asian openbill stork, which is found in India. Previously, the African openbill was only recorded in Oman and Saudi Arabia within the Asian subcontinent.