Cinnamon Bittern

Scientific Name: Ixobrychus 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. Juvenile resembles female but has buffish streaks on sides of head and dense buffish speckling on upperparts and upperwing-coverts.

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 resident and uncommon migrant

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.

Photos:

Male Cinnamon Bittern at Japanese Garden. Photo credit: Alan Ng

Male Cinnamon Bittern at Bidadari. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Male Cinnamon Bittern at Punggol Barat Photo credit: Francis Yap

Female Cinnamon Bittern. Photo credit: Mohamad Zahidi

Juvenile Cinnamon Bittern at Pasir Ris Farmway 3. Photo credit: Alan Ng

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Ixobrychus cinnamomeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Robson, C. (2008). A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers.