Wavy heron
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Wavy Heron ( Gorsachius melanolophus ) |
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| Gorsachius melanolophus | ||||||||||||
| ( Raffles , 1822) |
The Malayan Night Heron ( Gorsachius melanolophus ) is a kind from the family of herons . It occurs exclusively in East Asia and is relatively little bound to water. Its preferred habitat are subtropical rainforests.
Appearance
The wavy heron reaches a height of 49 centimeters and weighs between 417 and 450 grams. The gender dimorphism is only weak. Males have a slightly longer head of feathers than females.
The plumage color is very different from person to person, so that for a long time three subspecies were distinguished. However, the different plumage color occurs in the entire distribution area, so that today no differentiation into subspecies is common. The vertex and crown are black. The feathers on the back of the head are elongated into a tuft. The beak is built relatively compact for a heron species and slightly bent down at the end. The upper bill is dark brown, the lower bill greenish. The cheeks and neck are chestnut colored. The throat is white with black vertical stripes. The back and the upper wing covers are dark chestnut-colored with fine black dashes. The wings are black-brown with white tips. The tail is black. The underside of the body is brown with a fine black spot. The flanks and the lower tail are spotted brown and white. Feet and legs are olive in color.
It can be confused with the red-headed heron and the very rare grove , which occurs in southeast China and Vietnam. The most noticeable distinguishing feature is the chestnut-colored plumage of the wave heron.
Distribution area and habitat
The wave heron is found in India, Nepal, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, southern China, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and parts of Indonesia. It uses subtropical rainforests as habitat. It also occurs along streams, rivers, marshes, swamps and reservoirs. Its altitude distribution is unusual for a heron species. In the East Indies it has been observed at altitudes of 2300 meters above sea level.
The wavy heron is a migratory bird, but its migratory movements have not yet been adequately investigated. It is possible that only the northern populations migrate and other populations are resident birds. Random guests have reached Christmas Island several times . Those in January and December 1982 and January 1986 were not yet sexually mature birds.
Way of life
The wavy heron is a solitary heron species. It is both diurnal and nocturnal. It is occasionally seen in open spaces. However, it seems to prefer to look for food on the soil of dense rainforests. He prefers to catch fish along bodies of water. In contrast, the forest populations prefer to catch frogs and large earthworms. The food spectrum also includes beetles, mussels, crabs, snakes, lizards and small birds.
The breeding season varies depending on the location. It is only occasionally a colony breeder and is then often associated with other species of heron. The clutch usually consists of three to four eggs. The incubation period is 30 to 32 days. Both parent birds breed. The young birds fledge at around 43 days.
supporting documents
Single receipts
literature
- PJ Higgins (Ed.): Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds . Volume 1: Ratites to Ducks . Oxford University Press, Oxford 1990, ISBN 0195530683 .
- James A. Kushlan & James A. Hancock: Herons . Oxford University Press, 2005, ISBN 0-19-854981-4 .
Web links
- Gorsachius melanolophus onthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2013.