The Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) which belongs to the family Ciconiidae is the largest species of Stork lea in Sri Lanka. It can grow up to 130-150cm in height and have a wingspan 230cm. It weighs around 4kg on average. Adults have a glossy bluish-black iridescent head, neck, flight feathers and tail. Other distinct colouration that they exhibit is a bright white back and belly, a black bill and bright red legs. Male and female storks are almost identical: the adult female stork has a yellow iris, while the male’s iris is brown. Black-necked storks are very silent and nonsocial animals. They are seen as single birds, pairs or as a family group. They forage in a variety of natural and artificial wetland habitats, frequently using freshwater, natural wetlands. The Black-necked stork is a carnivore and its diet includes water-birds and a range of aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates such as crabs and mollusks.

They prey on the eggs and hatchlings of turtles too. Most prey is caught by the bird jabbing and seizing it using its large bill. They nest on large and isolated trees. Nests are made up of slicks, branches and lined with rushes, water-plants and sometimes with a mud plaster on the edges. Nests may measure up to 1-2 min diameter. The usual clutch size is four eggs. Eggs are dull white in colour and broad oval in shape. The incubation period is about 30 days. The chicks are white in colour. Their scapular feathers emerge first. Adults rear the young in the early stages but stop feeding at the nest when they reach about 4 months old. Small family groups of black-necked storks have been recorded in Sri Lanka, and they are considered to be rare residents. The birds are primarily seen in the south-cast at Yala and Kumana National Parks of Sri Lanka. There are a few occasional reports from the North as well.

Even though chicks have been observed in Sri Lanka, the nest of the Black-necked stork has never been found. The Black-necked stork is Strictly Protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance of Sri Lanka. The conservation status of this species is regarded as “Critically Endangered” (National Red List 2012). The Black-necked stork’s global conservation status as determined by IUCN is regarded as “Near Threatened”.