General Information  
Adults have a yellow bill with a downcurved tip, a bare orange head that becomes brighter and redder during the breeding season, and pinkish legs. Their wings feature primarily white barring with black stripes on the upper wing coverts and noticeable pink on the tertials, along with a speckled black band across the chest. Immatures are duller, with a dirty greyish-brown wash, brown wings, and no chest band. Painted storks are a monogamous species. In flight, they are distinctive with a long drooping neck and long legs trailing behind. These storks can be found either solitary or in flocks. They forage by wading slowly in shallow water with their bill partly submerged, using it to sense prey. Predominantly resident, they exhibit local seasonal movements, with juveniles often dispersing far from their natal sites. 

They are commonly found near water bodies such as wetlands, marshes, flooded agricultural fields, and lakes. Breeding occurs in crowded colonies, often alongside other waterbirds. They roost gregariously on trees, but in the absence of trees, they use alternative sites such as saltpans, freshwater marshes, open sandbanks, lakes, reservoirs, or croplands. Primarily colonial tree nesting birds, nesting in 5 to 6 trees with often 70 to 100 nests.

Threats
- The conversion of wetlands for agriculture, urban development, and other land uses has led to significant habitat loss. Intensification of agriculture and commercial fish farms are contributing to the loss food resources
- Wetland drainage and pollution further degrade the quality of their habitats, reducing available feeding and nesting sites. Nesting sites are also threatened by development projects
- Human activities near nesting and foraging areas can cause disturbances, leading to reduced breeding success.
-  Hunting has historically been a significant threat to the species. It still now is, consequently driving it to local extirpation.