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Painted Stork Nesting Peaked from August to November at Sultanpur National Park

Painted stork flying low over water while carrying nesting material in its bill
Research · Reproduction & development

Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) nesting activity at Sultanpur National Park in Haryana, India, was concentrated from August through November during a year-long study published in 2026. Researchers surveyed the park every two weeks from November 2024 to October 2025 to follow population numbers, age classes, nesting sites and the progression of the breeding season.

The team recorded 97 nests. Most were placed in tall trees including Dalbergia sissoo, Acacia nilotica, Prosopis juliflora and Ficus species, with nesting colonies concentrated in particular parts of the wetland. Nest building, egg laying and incubation were most active from August to November, followed by the chick-rearing period.

Painted Stork numbers also varied through the year, with the highest reported abundance in October at about 280 birds. The proportions of eggs, chicks, juveniles, sub-adults and adults also changed between seasons.

The authors report that seasonal prey richness, availability of nesting trees and access to water influenced colony distribution and nesting success. They identify wetland management, retention of nesting trees and long-term monitoring as important measures for maintaining the park’s role as a breeding and feeding area for Painted Storks.

Sources and image credit

  1. Sony, & Rana, S. (2026). Seasonal variation in population and nesting behaviour of Painted Stork, Mycteria leucocephala in Sultanpur National Park, Gurugram, Haryana. Biology Bulletin, 53, 131. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359026600200Primary peer-reviewed study published 21 August 2026. Fortnightly point counts and line transects at Sultanpur National Park from November 2024 to October 2025 recorded 97 nests. Nest building, egg laying and incubation peaked from August to November; the highest population count was in October (279.5 ± 2.13 individuals). The authors report effects of prey richness, nesting-tree availability and access to water on colony distribution and nesting success.

Image: Rajesh mpt — Painted Stork flying low over water while carrying nesting material in its bill; Wikimedia Commons. The source page does not state the location. Representative image; not from the Sultanpur study. CC BY-SA 4.0. · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

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