Malayan Night Heron

Malayan Night Heron

Scientific Name: Gorsachius melanolophus

Malay Name: Pucung-Harimau Ubun Hitam

Chinese Name: 黑冠鳽

Range: Found from India, China, mainland Southeast Asia to the Philippines with some populations wintering south to Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 48-51 cm

Identification: Adult has deep rufous head-sides and neck with black crown and long crest, chestnut-tinged brown upperparts, wings-coverts and upper-breast and densely marked blackish and whitish belly/vent. Juvenile is duller than adults and has densed irregular whitish to buffish and greyish bars and vermiculations on underparts and wings-coverts.

Habitat: Forest, forest edge, gardens, parks and wooded areas.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Bidadari, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Jurong Lake Garden, Venus Drive, Turuk Track, Tuas South and Hindhede Nature Park.

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Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Malayan Night Heron Gorsachius melanolophus
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Dec 03-Dec 09
Early date 03 Aug 2024
Late date 10 Jun 2021
Scarce and secretive forest heron. Its habits possibly contribute to the relatively low number of records here.

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Gorsachius melanolophus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697242A93604480.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

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