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.

Photos:

Malayan Night Heron at Hindhede Nature Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Juvenile Malayan Night Heron at Tuas. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Juvenile Malayan Night Heron at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Photo credit: Chris Li

Malayan Night Heron at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Malayan Night Heron at Hindhede Nature Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Malayan Night Heron at Hindhede Nature Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Adult Malayan Night Heron at Tuas. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai

Adult Malayan Night Heron at Tuas. Photo credit: Francis Yap

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). Gorsachius melanolophus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021
Robson, C. (2008). A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers.