Malayan night heron - Gorsachius melanolopahus (Raffles, 1822)
Global distribution: Southeast Asia, South Asia and the islands of the South Pacific. Taiwan is the northernmost boundary of its distribution.
Taiwan distribution: Found at elevations of 1,000 meters or below in broadleaved forest, bamboo forest and farmland near rivers. This species has also been recorded on the offshore islands of Penghu, Turtle Island, Lanyu (Orchid Island) and Dongsha Island.
Habitat and behavior: This species is mostly found around the headwaters of rivers, in the foothills and in park forests. It is most active in the early morning. It is solitary and forages for food in shaded areas below trees. Its distinctive behavior is turning of the neck. It rarely flies long distances. It only flies short distances such as between the ground and perching spots in trees. If startled, it raises its crest and stands motionless. If approached, it will lower its body and run or fly up into a nearby tree.
Diet: It mainly feeds on earthworms, but has also been known to eat insects, lizards, frogs, and fish.
First record in Taiwan: Swinhoe, R., 1866, Ibis 1866: 122-123.
Date discovered: June 1865.
Location of first discovery: Sandy and hilly area around Kaohsiung Port.
The specimen of this newly recorded species was from Kaohsiung Port, and was obtained by a fisherman. Swinhoe also collected a specimen in Tamsui. Its call sounds like that of a duck and Swinhoe believed that this was a rare species.
Excerpt of summary of original text: I sent a hunter into the mountains and he brought pack a pair of live heron juveniles. I attempted to feed them based on what this Han Chinese man told me. I gave them meat and soaked bread. Unfortunately, they soon starved to death. It's a pity that I didn't feed them fish. Their call is identical to that of a duck. Awhile ago, I obtained one adult. Its head was red. But, the heads of these two juveniles are black. Are they two different species of heron? I have read that the Malayan night heron is the same species as that in Japan. If that is true, the distribution of this species is broad, from Sri Lanka to Japan. I obtained one adult each from Tamsui and from this area. But, as I sent these specimens to England, I currently have no way of making comparisons, such that I am unable to make any conclusions about these juveniles.--From Development History of Birds in Taiwan by Lin Wen-Hong (1997), Taiwan Interminds Publishing.
