Christmas Island Unknown Heron Identification
By Birding-Aus, on February 25th, 2014
Hello Birding-Aus subscribers, It would be greatly appreciated if anyone could please help to identify this bird. The bird was photographed on Christmas Island on the 15/02/2014. It has caused debate over the identification on a few Facebook bird related pages. A link to a photograph can be found here: http://www.wildsideaustralia.com.au/unknown-birdy-2/ Sorry for the poor quality of the Photograph. I look forward to hearing your replies, Best always, Brendon Levot. _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Are we actually seeing a streaks on the back though? Or is the bird in a pose where it is lifting its wings slightly (in hunting mode) and the breeze has caught some feathers, lifting them at an angle making us think it has streaking on the back? The image is of such poor quality that we could argue for this and that. I agree with Nikolas that some more info would be very helpful. So far, we can see features that fit more than one species, but the habitat and the text on the website (‘feeding on the shoreline for small crustaceans’) is suggestive of Striated Heron. It just doesn’t ‘feel’ like an Ixobrychus bittern to me. Interestingly, they have an image of a Cinnamon Bittern on the same website that was taken into care (see link under the ‘unknown birdy’ text). A Cinnamon Bittern was also photographed at The Dales in mid December. Mick On Wednesday, 26 February 2014 4:10 PM, Mike Carter < pterodroma@bigpond.com> wrote: Quite true, the streaks on the back would be very odd for a Striated Heron but such an extensive black cap would be very odd for a Yellow Bittern as would the habitat for a foraging bird. The green legs would be a better fit for Striated Heron as Yellow Bittern normally would have yellow legs. This is a hard one. Mike Carter 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza VIC 3930 Tel (03) 9787 7136 —– Original Message —– < nhaass@yahoo.com>; < birding-aus@birding-aus.org> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 3:45 PM _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Quite true, the streaks on the back would be very odd for a Striated Heron but such an extensive black cap would be very odd for a Yellow Bittern as would the habitat for a foraging bird. The green legs would be a better fit for Striated Heron as Yellow Bittern normally would have yellow legs. This is a hard one. Mike Carter 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza VIC 3930 Tel (03) 9787 7136 —– Original Message —– < nhaass@yahoo.com>; < birding-aus@birding-aus.org> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 3:45 PM _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
G’day Mike, You discuss streaks on the neck, how about the streaks on the back, juv Striated Heron has none it is plain on the back. Cheers Jeff. —–Original Message—– Mike Carter Sent: Wednesday, 26 February 2014 2:08 PM I also thought Striated Heron on my first glance and that is still my opinion so I agree with David. I reckon that a Yellow Bittern with such well marked stripes on the neck would be too young to show a black crown like that. I was with others on Christmas Island in January and we saw a Striated Heron near that spot, at the Cove at the Resort. However, at the start of the track to the Blowholes we also flushed a small bittern-type bird and secured very poor flight photos. We were very puzzled as to its ID so followed it but after a second flight didn’t see it again. It was a dark bird and I was hoping it might be a Schrenck’s Bittern but in the end decided from the photos that it was most likely another Striated Heron. Mike Carter 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza VIC 3930 Tel (03) 9787 7136 —– Original Message —– Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 9:00 AM Hi David, Looks like our posts crossed in cyberspace. While I am certainly sympathetic with your point that it is a Striated Heron, as which I initially ID’d it myself, I don’t think we have done enough to rule out an Ixobrychus (see Jeff’s mail and my response). I think it is time to get a bit more information from Brendon? Was size compared to another nearby bird? Any more details on plumage patterns? Are there more photos? BTW most (if not all?) Ixobrychus bitterns can raise a crest. Nikolas Haass nhaass@yahoo.com Brisbane, QLD ________________________________ From: David James < burunglaut07@yahoo.com> Cc: “brendonlevot@live.com” < brendonlevot@live.com>; Nikolas Haass < nhaass@yahoo.com>; Jeff Davies < jeff@jeffdavies.com.au> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 6:55 AM Hi Brendon, Your bird is without doubt a young Striated Heron. It is a rare but regular visitor to CI with about 30 records since 2001. In fact there has been at least 1 record every year since 2001, so it possibly even breeds on CI. Ethel Beach is one of the spots were it is seen most often. The Striated Herons on CI look quite different to those on mainland Australia because they are one or more Southeast Asian subspecies, although it is not clear which one(s). They are more heavily marked (streaked) below and have bolder face markings with broader pale and dark stripes. The subspecies might be the local javanicus from nearby Indonesia (especially if they are breeding). However, the narrow range of dates (November to May) suggests they are migrants and therefore perhaps the more northerly migrant ssp amurensis. There are a couple of other possibilities too. It is not a Yellow Bittern. For starters, the upperparts are grey-green instead of tan-brown. Yellow Bittern only has a solid black crown in adult male plumage, at which time it is bright yellow brown with no streaking or mottling above, and the bill is mostly yellow. I don’t know that yellow bittern can raise a crest. Cheers, David James Sydney ============================== _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
I still cant see it as a Striated Heron. The image is strongly pixilated and probably colour compromised. The colour of the photo suggests Striated first off, but when you look closely at the bird it cant be. Looking at those face markings/structures the cap appears to be well clear of the eye position by a substantial amount. The face and bill base pattern is all wrong for juv Striated. The eye is positioned within the apparent diagonal line of dark starting from front of cap. I can envisage the area of pale bare skin at bill base with no dark forward of the eye and the bill is too long and pointy. Looks like an Ixobrychus Bittern to me. So its still Yellow Bittern for mine. Cheers Jeff. I hope people don’t get this post twice but my first attempt at reply bounced. —–Original Message—– Nikolas Haass Sent: Wednesday, 26 February 2014 9:00 AM Hi David, Looks like our posts crossed in cyberspace. While I am certainly sympathetic with your point that it is a Striated Heron, as which I initially ID’d it myself, I don’t think we have done enough to rule out an Ixobrychus (see Jeff’s mail and my response). I think it is time to get a bit more information from Brendon? Was size compared to another nearby bird? Any more details on plumage patterns? Are there more photos? BTW most (if not all?) Ixobrychus bitterns can raise a crest. Cheers, Nikolas —————- Nikolas Haass nhaass@yahoo.com Brisbane, QLD ________________________________ From: David James < burunglaut07@yahoo.com> Cc: “brendonlevot@live.com” < brendonlevot@live.com>; Nikolas Haass < nhaass@yahoo.com>; Jeff Davies < jeff@jeffdavies.com.au> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 6:55 AM Hi Brendon, Your bird is without doubt a young Striated Heron. It is a rare but regular visitor to CI with about 30 records since 2001. In fact there has been at least 1 record every year since 2001, so it possibly even breeds on CI. Ethel Beach is one of the spots were it is seen most often. The Striated Herons on CI look quite different to those on mainland Australia because they are one or more Southeast Asian subspecies, although it is not clear which one(s). They are more heavily marked (streaked) below and have bolder face markings with broader pale and dark stripes. The subspecies might be the local javanicus from nearby Indonesia (especially if they are breeding). However, the narrow range of dates (November to May) suggests they are migrants and therefore perhaps the more northerly migrant ssp amurensis. There are a couple of other possibilities too. It is not a Yellow Bittern. For starters, the upperparts are grey-green instead of tan-brown. Yellow Bittern only has a solid black crown in adult male plumage, at which time it is bright yellow brown with no streaking or mottling above, and the bill is mostly yellow. I don’t know that yellow bittern can raise a crest. Cheers, David James Sydney ============================== _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
I also thought Striated Heron on my first glance and that is still my opinion so I agree with David. I reckon that a Yellow Bittern with such well marked stripes on the neck would be too young to show a black crown like that. I was with others on Christmas Island in January and we saw a Striated Heron near that spot, at the Cove at the Resort. However, at the start of the track to the Blowholes we also flushed a small bittern-type bird and secured very poor flight photos. We were very puzzled as to its ID so followed it but after a second flight didn’t see it again. It was a dark bird and I was hoping it might be a Schrenck’s Bittern but in the end decided from the photos that it was most likely another Striated Heron. Mike Carter 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza VIC 3930 Tel (03) 9787 7136 —– Original Message —– Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 9:00 AM Hi David, Looks like our posts crossed in cyberspace. While I am certainly sympathetic with your point that it is a Striated Heron, as which I initially ID’d it myself, I don’t think we have done enough to rule out an Ixobrychus (see Jeff’s mail and my response). I think it is time to get a bit more information from Brendon? Was size compared to another nearby bird? Any more details on plumage patterns? Are there more photos? BTW most (if not all?) Ixobrychus bitterns can raise a crest. Nikolas Haass nhaass@yahoo.com Brisbane, QLD ________________________________ From: David James < burunglaut07@yahoo.com> Cc: “brendonlevot@live.com” < brendonlevot@live.com>; Nikolas Haass < nhaass@yahoo.com>; Jeff Davies < jeff@jeffdavies.com.au> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 6:55 AM Hi Brendon, Your bird is without doubt a young Striated Heron. It is a rare but regular visitor to CI with about 30 records since 2001. In fact there has been at least 1 record every year since 2001, so it possibly even breeds on CI. Ethel Beach is one of the spots were it is seen most often. The Striated Herons on CI look quite different to those on mainland Australia because they are one or more Southeast Asian subspecies, although it is not clear which one(s). They are more heavily marked (streaked) below and have bolder face markings with broader pale and dark stripes. The subspecies might be the local javanicus from nearby Indonesia (especially if they are breeding). However, the narrow range of dates (November to May) suggests they are migrants and therefore perhaps the more northerly migrant ssp amurensis. There are a couple of other possibilities too. It is not a Yellow Bittern. For starters, the upperparts are grey-green instead of tan-brown. Yellow Bittern only has a solid black crown in adult male plumage, at which time it is bright yellow brown with no streaking or mottling above, and the bill is mostly yellow. I don’t know that yellow bittern can raise a crest. Cheers, David James Sydney ============================== _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Hi Lorna, Jeff & Brendon, Night-heron, Lorna: No, overall shape, especially head and bill shape, and overall colouration and pattern rule out any night-heron species: Young Yellow Bittern, Jeff: Yes, very good idea indeed. Doesn’t look too far off of this one that Raja ‘shot’ when we were in Thailand recently: http://www.adarman.com/Trips/Asia/2013-Thailand/i-wHtXqKM/A I was thinking ‘Ixobrychus’ too, but disregarded that for two reasons: (1) Brendon called it ‘heron’, not ‘tiny heron’ and (2) habitat. But you are right, Jeff, neither reason is valid to rule out Ixobrychus. The bird looks indeed good for a young Yellow Bittern. Cheers, Nikolas —————- Nikolas Haass nhaass@yahoo.com Brisbane, QLD ________________________________ From: Lorna Mee < lornamee33@gmail.com> Cc: Nikolas Haass < nhaass@yahoo.com>; brendon levot < brendonlevot@live.com>; birding-aus@birding-aus.org Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 6:33 AM I suggest Black crowned Night Heron juvenile, Lorna Mee On Wed, Feb 26, 2014 at 3:27 AM, Jeff Davies < jeff@jeffdavies.com.au> wrote: G’day Nicolas, _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Hi Brendon, Your bird is without doubt a young Striated Heron. It is a rare but regular visitor to CI with about 30 records since 2001. In fact there has been at least 1 record every year since 2001, so it possibly even breeds on CI. Ethel Beach is one of the spots were it is seen most often. The Striated Herons on CI look quite different to those on mainland Australia because they are one or more Southeast Asian subspecies, although it is not clear which one(s). They are more heavily marked (streaked) below and have bolder face markings with broader pale and dark stripes. The subspecies might be the local javanicus from nearby Indonesia (especially if they are breeding). However, the narrow range of dates (November to May) suggests they are migrants and therefore perhaps the more northerly migrant ssp amurensis. There are a couple of other possibilities too. It is not a Yellow Bittern. For starters, the upperparts are grey-green instead of tan-brown. Yellow Bittern only has a solid black crown in adult male plumage, at which time it is bright yellow brown with no streaking or mottling above, and the bill is mostly yellow. I don’t know that yellow bittern can raise a crest. Cheers, David James Sydney ============================== _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
I suggest Black crowned Night Heron juvenile, Lorna Mee On Wed, Feb 26, 2014 at 3:27 AM, Jeff Davies < jeff@jeffdavies.com.au> wrote: _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
G’day Nicolas, The habitat would suggest Striated but that birds face pattern looks more like a young Yellow Bittern to me. Birds can finish up in non-typical habitats on Islands especially when there is a shortage of the habitat they normally prefer. Cheers Jeff. —–Original Message—– Nikolas Haass Sent: Tuesday, 25 February 2014 11:42 PM Hi Brendon, Looks like a young Striated Heron to me. Nikolas —————- Nikolas Haass nhaass@yahoo.com Brisbane, QLD ________________________________ From: brendon levot < brendonlevot@live.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 9:45 PM Hello Birding-Aus subscribers, It would be greatly appreciated if anyone could please help to identify this bird. The bird was photographed on Christmas Island on the 15/02/2014. It has caused debate over the identification on a few Facebook bird related pages. A link to a photograph can be found here: http://www.wildsideaustralia.com.au/unknown-birdy-2/ Sorry for the poor quality of the Photograph. I look forward to hearing your replies, Best always, Brendon Levot. _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Hi Brendon, Looks like a young Striated Heron to me. Nikolas —————- Nikolas Haass nhaass@yahoo.com Brisbane, QLD ________________________________ From: brendon levot < brendonlevot@live.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 9:45 PM Hello Birding-Aus subscribers, It would be greatly appreciated if anyone could please help to identify this bird. The bird was photographed on Christmas Island on the 15/02/2014. It has caused debate over the identification on a few Facebook bird related pages. A link to a photograph can be found here: http://www.wildsideaustralia.com.au/unknown-birdy-2/ Sorry for the poor quality of the Photograph. I look forward to hearing your replies, Best always, Brendon Levot. _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org