AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

217. Gorsachius melanolophus

217. Gorsachius melanolophus.

THE MALAY BITTERN.

Female 17" to 19"; 3/4 lb. Legs greenish. Bill 2 1/2", black. Crown and nuchal crest black. Mantle dull chestnut, finely barred black-brown. Rump and upper tail-coverts slate. First three primaries blackish, broadly tipped white; others tipped chestnut. Wing-lining, axillaries, flanks, and under tail-coverts barred black and white. A rare bird in W. India and Ceylon, but found in Assam, Burma, Pegu, Nicobars, Malay Peninsula, the Philippines, and Borneo. Breeds on Malabar coast. (B. 1569. S.F. ii. 312.)

Also G. goisachi. 18". Similar to G. melanolophus, but head is chestnut. From Japan, wintering in Formosa and the Philippines.

Also the genus Syrigma. With tarsus plated in front. One species— S. sibilatrix, 23", ashy grey, confined to S. America.

Bill with distinct serrations near tip, sometimes only on upper mandible, subterminal notch obsolete.

Bill longer than mid toe and claw. Throat entirely feathered. Tarsus reticulated in front with hexagonal scales.

BookTitle: 
Game, Shore And Water Birds Of India
Reference: 
Le Messurier, Augustus. Game, Shore, and Water Birds of India Fourth Edition, 1904.
Title in Book: 
217. Gorsachius melanolophus
Book Author: 
A Le Messurier
CatNo: 
217
Year: 
1904
Page No: 
200
Common name: 
Malay Bittern
M_ID: 
2225
M_CN: 
Malayan Night Heron
M_SN: 
Gorsachius melanolophus
Volume: 
4th ed.
id: 
13010

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