Malayan Night Heron
Gorsachius melanolophus
Bizarre-looking bird with the squat, staring appearance of a toad. Adult is dark cinnamon-brown with a black crown and a black stripe running from the throat down to the breast. Juvenile is very different, with gray-brown barring all over the body (darkest on the crown). Breeding birds have an especially bright blue facial skin patch between the bill and the eyes; the patch is faded in non-breeders, and yellowish in juveniles. Japanese Night-Heron is similar but averages duller brown with less contrasting black patches. Typically nocturnal and furtive in forested areas, but can frequently be tame and active during the day as well.
Identification
The Malayan night heron is about 48 cm (19 in) long. The wingspan is about 86 cm (34 in). It is stocky, with a short beak. Its neck and breast are rufous. There are streaks going down the centre of the neck to the breast. The upperparts are chestnut and vermiculated. The flight feathers are blackish. The crown is black, the chin is white, and the eyes are yellow. The beak is black and the legs are greenish. The juvenile is greyish to rufous and is spotted and vermiculated. Males have been reported to have deeper blue lores and a longer crest compared to females during the breeding season. Males develop the dark blue lores 30–60 days prior to pair-bonding, while females had bluish-green lores when they first appeared in the breeding areas. Colours of the lores of both sexes faded as incubation progressed, with colours changing to bluish-green to green to greyish-green. If pairs laid a second clutch, the colouration of their lores were duller than the colouration during the first clutch.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Gorsachius melanolophus
- Authority
- (Raffles, 1822)
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Genus
- Gorsachius
Range and habitat
The Malayan night heron has been found in India, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan. It is a vagrant in Palau and Korea. Its range size is estimated at 1,240,000 km2. One roadkilled bird was discovered on Christmas Island, Australia where it is likely a vagrant. This bird occurs in forests, streams, and marshes. In Japan, population densities of the herons increased as undisturbed forest cover on islands increased.
- Breeding range
- OR : W Ghats (sw India), ne India through se Asia and se China to Philippines, Peleng (Banggai Is., e of Sulawesi)
- Non-breeding range
- to Sri Lanka, Greater Sundas
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
The bird has a large range and its global population is between 2,000 and 20,000 individuals. Its population trend is not known, but it does not meet the criteria for a vulnerable species status.
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Myzomela lafargei
Mostly yellowish with a black head, back, tail, and shoulders. Wing feathers fringed with yellow. Red cap is variable. Female is plainly dull yellow. Found in most forested or scrubby habitats. Similar to Olive-backed Sunbird, but female is duller yellow, and male has a black head and back. Voice includes a sweet, high-pitched “tsip-tsip.”
Hartlaub's Turaco
Tauraco hartlaubi
A beautiful green turaco with dark blue wings, tail, and crown. Note the white markings on the head: a white spot in front of the eye and a white line below the eye. Like all turacos, shows large crimson wing patches in flight. Found in montane forests, lush woodlands, and gardens. Acts like a typical turaco, bouncing through the trees and flying occasionally with short bursts of wingbeats and long glides. Similar overall to other turacos, but separated from most by the dark blue crown, and from Purple-crested Turaco by the white facial markings. Call is a gruff, accelerating series of “kow” notes.
Cliff Flycatcher
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This unmistakable long-winged flycatcher is widespread (though rarely very numerous) throughout much of South America. As the name implies it occurs around cliffs, landslides, and even buildings. Medium size, warm rufous coloration (brightest on the wings), and habitat are distinctive. Some variation across range, with birds in the Andes having more whitish speckling on the face. Compare with Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, which is larger and has a streaked throat. Usually seen singly or in pairs, perched conspicuously on a snag, rock face, powerline, or building.
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