Scientific Name: Botaurus cinnamomeus
Malay Name: Gelam Bendang
Chinese Name: 栗苇鳽
Range: Found from Indian subcontinent to China and Southeast Asia with some northern population wintering south to Southeast Asia
Taxonomy: Monotypic.
Size: 38-41 cm
Identification: Male has distinctive uniform bright cinnamon-rufous wings and upperparts while female has slightly darker upperparts with vague buffish speckling on scapulars and upperwing-coverts and variably dark crown. Juvenile resembles female but has buffish streaks on sides of head and dense buffish speckling on upperparts and upperwing-coverts. In flight, this species lacks black primary tips unlike Yellow and Von Schrenck's Bittern.
Similar looking species: Von Schrenck's Bittern
Habitat: Grasslands and marshes near freshwater wetlands and occasionally mangroves.
Behaviour/Ecology: Often seen in flight. Sometimes perches motionless for long periods before feeding.
Local Status: Uncommon migrant and rare resident
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Bidadari, Punggol Barat, Seletar West, Choa Chu Kang Cemetery, Kranji Marsh, Tuas South, Japanese/Chinese Gardens, Lorong Halus, Pasir Ris Farmway 3, Pasir Ris Park, Sungei Buloh and Satay by the Bay.
- Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)
Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Cinnamon Bittern)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Ixobrychus cinnamomeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697323A93608162.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Cinnamon Bittern. Retrieved on December 4, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/cinnamon-bittern.