The Lesser Adjutant is a large stork with a completely bare head and neck, which suits its scavenging lifestyle. Adults have a red face and a yellow neck, while juveniles sport a brownish head and a white, sparsely feathered neck. The upperparts of the bird are dark, whereas the underparts are mostly white. In flight, it is characterized by broad wings with distinctive white “armpits” and a tucked-in neck. Although it resembles the larger Greater Adjutant, the Lesser Adjutant is distinguished by its more slender bill, all-dark upperwings, and a more upright posture compared to the more “hunched” stance of the Greater Adjutant. It is commonly found in shallow marshes, fields, and swamps.