Scientific Name: Ixobrychus 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 juvenile resembles Cinnamon Bittern but has the distinctive black median crown stripe and much bolder white to buff speckling and spotting on upperparts and upperwing-coverts.
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.
Photos:
External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page ↗
Photos: Oriental Bird Images ↗
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 19 December 2021
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.