About Gorsachius melanolophus (Raffles, 1822)
Taxonomy and Naming
The Malayan night heron (scientific name Gorsachius melanolophus (Raffles, 1822)) measures about 48 cm (19 in) in length, with a wingspan of around 86 cm (34 in).
Body Build
It has a stocky build and a short beak.
Neck and Breast Coloration
Its neck and breast are rufous, with streaks running down the center of the neck to the breast.
Upperpart and Feather Coloration
The upperparts are chestnut and vermiculated, while the flight feathers are blackish.
Head and Limb Features
It has a black crown, white chin, yellow eyes, a black beak, and greenish legs.
Juvenile Plumage
Juvenile Malayan night herons are greyish to rufous, with spotted and vermiculated patterning.
Breeding Season Sexual Dimorphism
During the breeding season, males have been reported to have deeper blue lores and a longer crest compared to females.
Pre-Breeding Lore Coloration
Males develop dark blue lores 30 to 60 days before pair-bonding, while females have bluish-green lores when they first arrive in breeding areas.
Lore Color Change During Incubation
The lore color of both sexes fades as incubation progresses, changing from bluish-green to green to greyish-green.
Second Clutch Lore Coloration
If pairs lay a second clutch, their lore coloration is duller than it was during the first clutch.
Core Distribution Range
The Malayan night heron is found in India, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan.
Vagrant Records
It is a vagrant in Palau and Korea.
Estimated Range Size
Its total estimated range size is 1,240,000 km².
Australian Vagrant Record
One roadkilled individual has been found on Christmas Island, Australia, where the species is likely a vagrant.
Habitat Types
This bird lives in forests, along streams, and in marshes.
Population Density Correlates
In Japan, population densities of the herons increase as undisturbed forest cover on islands increases.
