Like the vultures, marabous help rid Africa and southern Asia of carrion. These birds all have naked heads and a ruff of feathers surmounting the shoulders. A member in the family of storks (Ciconiidae), the greater adjutant stork, Leptoptilus dubiusis the largest species and occurs from central India to Borneo. It is greenish black above; the bill, 18 inches long, has a slight downward curve. The wingspan is more than 10 ft.

Another scavenger of tropical Africa is the marabou (adjutant) stork, Leptoptilus crumeniferus, a tall, shy bird, swift enough to catch live prey with its huge bill. When feeding on carrion it thrusts its bare, flesh-colored, black-spotted head deep inside the body cavity of the dead animal. Hanging below the throat is a pointed, distensible pouch which is not used to hold food but is connected with the breathing system and may serve as a cushion for the bill when the bird is resting.