确认了物种，没有确认来源
烟台市政府转载的9月18日报道称，监测人员9月14日拍到一只大型鹳鸟。照片经中山大学专家及多位国内外鸟类研究者复核，尾下覆羽、翼下覆羽和喙形等证据一致支持大秃鹳。报道同时指出，这是国内尚无确切野外证据背景下的重要影像记录。
物种鉴定与个体来源是两个问题。大秃鹳通常主要在南亚、东南亚活动，这一个体远超已知常规分布；现阶段既不能排除自然迷鸟，也不能完全排除圈养逃逸。文章与个人清单都应保留“来源未定”，不把它直接宣传为中国野生新纪录。
三种秃鹳的复核思路
报道中的专家先用裸露头颈颜色排除非洲秃鹳，再重点比较大秃鹳与小秃鹳：本个体尾下覆羽羽端偏深、翼下覆羽与飞羽存在明暗对比，喙也更粗壮并带弧度。多个特征在连续照片中反复出现，才构成支持。
远距离单张照片、压缩视频和逆光会改变颜色与比例。普通观鸟者遇到异常大鸟，应保存原始连拍、时间、方向、天气和行为，先标为“秃鹳属未定”提交专业审核；不要仅凭体型或一个色块在社交平台抢先宣布。
罕见记录不应变成追鸟压力
本页仅保留长岛群岛级范围，不复述具体监测点、飞行线路或可能再次出现的位置。迁徙海岛承载猛禽和大型鸟类的集中通过，追车、无人机跟飞、闯入保护地或占用监测站都会增加风险。
若在公开区域偶遇相似个体，停在原地远观，记录而不追逐；先向保护区或可信记录审核机构提交证据，等待来源调查。公开照片应删除定位并延迟发布，任何现场管制和巡护人员指令都优先。
The species is confirmed; the origin is not
The September 18 report republished by Yantai's government says monitors photographed a very large stork on September 14. Review by a Sun Yat-sen University expert and other Chinese and international specialists found the undertail coverts, underwing contrast and bill structure consistently supported Greater Adjutant. The report describes it as important photographic evidence against a background with no accepted definite field record in China.
Species identity and individual origin are separate questions. Greater Adjutants are normally associated with South and Southeast Asia, and this bird was far outside the usual range. A wild vagrant remains possible, but an escape cannot yet be excluded. Records should retain 'origin unresolved' rather than immediately market it as a new wild record for China.
How the three adjutants were compared
The experts first used the bare head-and-neck colour to rule against Marabou Stork, then focused on Greater versus Lesser Adjutant. Darker tips to the undertail coverts, paler underwing coverts contrasting with the flight feathers, and a heavier, curved bill supported Greater Adjutant. Agreement across several frames and features mattered.
Distance, compression and backlight can distort colour and proportions. For any extraordinary large bird, preserve the original sequence, time, direction, weather and behaviour, submit it as 'unidentified adjutant' for expert review, and do not race to announce a species from size or one colour patch.
A rarity must not become pursuit pressure
This page retains only archipelago-level locality and omits the survey station, flight line and any renewed position. Migration islands concentrate raptors and other large birds; vehicle pursuit, drones, reserve trespass and crowding a monitoring station all add risk.
If a similar bird appears in a public area, stay put, watch from distance and document without pursuit. Send evidence first to the reserve or a trusted records committee while origin is investigated. Strip coordinates and delay public photographs, and follow every closure and ranger instruction.