Distribution and habitat selection of Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) in Peninsular Malaysia Mohd Amir Zakaria, Farah Shafawati Mohd-Taib, and Shukor Md-Nor Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, MALAYSIA Abstract: Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala), a water bird species from Family Coraciidae, is widespread in Peninsular Malaysia after a successful captive-breeding program. However, the spill-over of this species might pose threat other waterbirds. Therefore, understanding their distribution and habitat selection could serve as preliminary steps towards controlling the population. From 267 sites surveyed, 142 sites have documented the presence of this species. Population cencus and assessment of physical variables (e.g. width, feeding depth, distance from nearby nesting sites and grass height in 10m radius) and habitat factors (e.g. type, location, and turbidity of the water bodies) were conducted. This species was highly populated in ponds, followed by lakes and treatment plans. PCA result explained that width of water bodies, grass height and feeding depth highly explained habitat selection of this species. The stork population was positively correlated to the width of the water bodies, whereas mixture of clay and concrete banks were mostly preferred. Multiple regression indicate that grass height, width of water bodies and feeding depth added statistically significantly to the prediction of the stork population (p<0.05). This information is important in management of the spill over of Painted stork population, as well as conserving other water birds species. Keywords: water birds, population, spill over, water bodies and physical variables Running title: HABITAT SELECTION OF PAINTED STORK INTRODUCTION Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) is a water bird from family Ciconiidae. This bird populate mainly in Southern and South East Asia including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam (Devkar et al. 2006). These birds are restricted to freshwater and they are commonly found in large colonies at swamps, ponds, lakes, river banks and wetlands (Urfi 2011). Like other waterbirds, this species has long leck, with slight curve bill and the overall body is white, with black stripe across the chest an wing. In addition, there is a pink mark on the scapula, which gives the name painted stork (Sonobe and Usui 1993). This bird can reach height between 93cm-102cm while standing, and the wing length from end to end is 150cm- 160cm and weighs 2kg-3.5kg (Urfi and Kalam 2006). In addition, this species has no syrinc (vocal organs that produce sound), thus is mute. Bill clattering is an important means of communication for nesting birds in the nest. The red color on the face and feet will turn bright red during the mating season. According to BirdLife International (2020), the population size of painted stork is between 16000 to 24000 throughout the world, but the population pattern is decreasing. This species lives in colony and nest in large groups of up to 200 individuals (Sundar 2006), and were seen to forage in a group between 1 to 18 individuals (Kalam and Urfi 2008). This species has been classified as endangered mainly due to hunting, poor drainage and pollution (BirdLife International 2020). In addition, their meat were consumed by locals and their preferred roosting trees were cut down for agriculture and fuel (Hancock et al. 1992; Pattanaik et al. 2008). Human activities also cause these birds to escape from the foraging sites and breeding grounds (Meganathan and Urfi 2009). Habitat selection is the behavioral process to select or adapt to chosen habitat and assist in breeding and survival of a population. Water birds usually