Von Schrenck’s Bittern

Von Schrenck’s Bittern

Scientific Name: Botaurus eurhythmus

Malay Name: Gelam Belakang Coklat

Chinese Name: 紫背苇鳽

Alternative Name(s): Chestnut Bittern, Schrenck's Bittern

Range: Found from Siberia, Korea, Japan to eastern China and winters in southern China and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 39-42 cm

Identification: Male has dark chestnut upperparts contrasting strongly with mostly buffish underparts and wing-coverts. Female and immature resembles Cinnamon Bittern but has darker and more prominently spotted upperparts (and wings, for adult).    

Similar looking species: Cinnamon Bittern

Habitat: Freshwater marshes, forest streams, well-vegetated ponds and mangroves.

Behaviour/Ecology: Similar to other bitterns where it perches motionless for long periods before feeding.

Local Status: Rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Central Catchment Forest, Lower Pierce Reservoir, Tuas South, Pasir Ris Park, Sungei Buloh and Satay by the Bay.

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 2023, Apr 2023, Dec 2023, Jan 2024

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Von Schrenck's Bittern Botaurus eurhythmus
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Jan 15-Jan 21
Early date 06 Oct 2012
Late date 08 May 2015
Singapore seems to be among the best places in the world to see this scarce and relatively poorly-known bittern. Find it quietly skulking along dark streams and mangrove edges from Oct to Apr.
Lower Peirce
Female Von Schrenck’s Bittern at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Female Von Schrenck’s Bittern at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Male Von Schrenck’s Bittern at Lower Peirce. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Male Von Schrenck’s Bittern at Lower Peirce. Photo credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Schrenck's Bittern)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Ixobrychus eurhythmus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697317A93607859.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.). Von Schrenck's Bittern. Retrieved on December 17, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/von-schrencks-bittern.

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