Pelecaniform birds (phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, superclass Tetrapoda, class Aves, order Pelecaniformes) are mostly birds with relatively long necks (or can stretch it far out), long legs, and short tails (with a number of exceptions).
In Singapore, they are represented by the herons and their allies (family Ardeidae), though occasionally rare vagrants like the ibis or free ranging pelicans from the Bird Park can be seen. These birds usually live in wetlands, grasslands and scrublands, feeding on small vertebrates, molluscs, insects and custaceans. They hunt by moving around quietly, and on spotting the prey, catch them with their bills by extending their neck rapidly in an almost spring-like movement.
Here are some of the pelecaniform birds that I have seen in Singapore.
The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a common resident bird that is commonly seen around water bodies, such as in mangrove forests and marshlands, or near rivers and ponds. This tall bird can reach heights of about 1m, and has a light grey plumage. The adult has black stripes on its long neck. The long legs enable it to wade in shallow water or among tall grasses to hunt small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans and even small mammals and birds.
The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) is a common resident bird, though not as common as the previous species. It is also not easily seen, as it is very shy and tends to hide among the vegetation. This bird grows to about 90cm tall. It has a bright brown neck and greyish brown body, which appears purple from a distance. It is usually found near water bodies, especially freshwater ones such as rivers and ponds, though it can be found sometimes in the mangrove as well. It feeds on small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans and even small mammals and birds.
The Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana) is the tallest bird in Singapore, being able to grow to about 115cm tall. This rare resident is found on islands, coral reefs, quite beaches, mangroves and sometimes along rivers. It is dark grey all over, with a several pale streaks on its wings and neck. It feeds on small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans and even small mammals and birds.
The Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is an uncommon resident bird that is usually found near water bodies, such as in mangroves, around ponds or along rivers. It is a nocturnal bird, and usually roost in trees in the day. It has gotten its common name from its black crown. The back is black as well, while the wings and tail are grey, and the belly is whitish. This heron lacks the long neck of the previous species (though the neck can stretch quite far out), but is still fairly tall (about 65cm). It feeds on small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans and even small mammals and birds.
The Striated Heron (Butorides striatus) is a very common resident bird that can be easily seen along the edge of water bodies and on mudflats. While it lacks the long necks of most herons, it can still stretch its neck quite far out to catch small animals, such as crustaceans, frogs, insects and fishes. It has a black cap, dark grey wings, and greyish body. The neck is marked with several white streaks. It grows to about 45cm tall.
The Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) is a common resident bird that can be found near water bodies, such as ponds and wetlands. It is often well-concealed among the vegetation by the water's edge. The male is yellowish brown with a black cap, while the female lacks the prominent black cap and has very prominent brown streaks running down its neck to the belly. When they fly, black flight feathers can be seen. This species grows to over 35cm tall, and feeds on small fish, insects and other small animals.
The Pond Herons (Ardeola spp.) are migratory birds which, in their non-breeding plumage, are hard to differentiate. The head to the belly has brown and white streaks, while the back is brown. When they fly, the white wings can be seen. The bill is yellow with a black tip. Three species have been recorded from Singapore: the Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus) which is a common winter visitor; the Javan Pond Heron (Ardeola speciosa) which is a rare winter visitor; and the Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) which is a very rare vagrant.
The above features a Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus) in its breeding plumage. It has a reddish brown head and neck, white belly and wings, and black back. This common winter visitor grows to about 45cm tall, and can be seen in marshlands and grasslands, or near rivers and ponds. It feeds on small animals, such as crustaceans, frogs, fishes and insects.
The Pacific Reef Egret (Egretta sacra) is an uncommon resident bird that is mostly found in coastal areas. This species has a dark grey morph and a white morph - the former is featured in the above photo. The legs and the bill are yellow.
The above photo features a Pacific Reef Egret in its white morph. It can be differentiated from other similar-looking species by the shorter legs. This species grows to about 60cm tall, and feeds mostly on small fishes, crustaceans and molluscs.
The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a very common winter visitor that can be seen in our coastal areas and near freshwater bodies, such as rivers, ponds and reservoirs. It has a white plumage, a black bill, and black legs with yellow feet (though some subspecies may have black feet). This species grows to about 60cm tall, and feeds on small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, insects, crustaceans, molluscs, and birds.
The Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) is a common winter visitor that can be found in our coastal areas and near freshwater bodies, such as rivers, ponds and reservoirs. Non breeding ones have a white plumage, yellow bill and black legs (and feet). Breeding ones have a black bill. This bird reaches height of about 70cm, and feeds on small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, insects, and crustaceans.
The Great Egret (Ardea alba), a common winter visitor, is the largest egret (about 100cm tall) that can be seen in Singapore. Like other migratory egrets, it can be seen in coastal areas and near freshwater bodies, such as rivers, ponds and reservoirs. Apart from the size, it can be differentiated from other egrets by the kink on the neck. Breeding ones have black bills, while the non-breeding ones have yellow bills. It feeds on small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans and even small mammals and birds.
The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a very common winter visitor, though free-ranging birds from the Bird Park can be seen all year round. Non-breeding ones have a white plumage, yellow legs and a yellow bill. Breeding ones will have brownish orange heads and necks. In other countries, they forage around the grazing cattle, feeding on the insects disturbed by the latter, and hence the common name. This species grow to about 50cm tall, and is usually found in grasslands and open habitats. It feeds on small animals that live among the grasses, such as insects and frogs.
References
In Singapore, they are represented by the herons and their allies (family Ardeidae), though occasionally rare vagrants like the ibis or free ranging pelicans from the Bird Park can be seen. These birds usually live in wetlands, grasslands and scrublands, feeding on small vertebrates, molluscs, insects and custaceans. They hunt by moving around quietly, and on spotting the prey, catch them with their bills by extending their neck rapidly in an almost spring-like movement.
Here are some of the pelecaniform birds that I have seen in Singapore.
The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a common resident bird that is commonly seen around water bodies, such as in mangrove forests and marshlands, or near rivers and ponds. This tall bird can reach heights of about 1m, and has a light grey plumage. The adult has black stripes on its long neck. The long legs enable it to wade in shallow water or among tall grasses to hunt small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans and even small mammals and birds.
The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) is a common resident bird, though not as common as the previous species. It is also not easily seen, as it is very shy and tends to hide among the vegetation. This bird grows to about 90cm tall. It has a bright brown neck and greyish brown body, which appears purple from a distance. It is usually found near water bodies, especially freshwater ones such as rivers and ponds, though it can be found sometimes in the mangrove as well. It feeds on small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans and even small mammals and birds.
The Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana) is the tallest bird in Singapore, being able to grow to about 115cm tall. This rare resident is found on islands, coral reefs, quite beaches, mangroves and sometimes along rivers. It is dark grey all over, with a several pale streaks on its wings and neck. It feeds on small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans and even small mammals and birds.
The Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is an uncommon resident bird that is usually found near water bodies, such as in mangroves, around ponds or along rivers. It is a nocturnal bird, and usually roost in trees in the day. It has gotten its common name from its black crown. The back is black as well, while the wings and tail are grey, and the belly is whitish. This heron lacks the long neck of the previous species (though the neck can stretch quite far out), but is still fairly tall (about 65cm). It feeds on small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans and even small mammals and birds.
The Striated Heron (Butorides striatus) is a very common resident bird that can be easily seen along the edge of water bodies and on mudflats. While it lacks the long necks of most herons, it can still stretch its neck quite far out to catch small animals, such as crustaceans, frogs, insects and fishes. It has a black cap, dark grey wings, and greyish body. The neck is marked with several white streaks. It grows to about 45cm tall.
The Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) is a common resident bird that can be found near water bodies, such as ponds and wetlands. It is often well-concealed among the vegetation by the water's edge. The male is yellowish brown with a black cap, while the female lacks the prominent black cap and has very prominent brown streaks running down its neck to the belly. When they fly, black flight feathers can be seen. This species grows to over 35cm tall, and feeds on small fish, insects and other small animals.
The Pond Herons (Ardeola spp.) are migratory birds which, in their non-breeding plumage, are hard to differentiate. The head to the belly has brown and white streaks, while the back is brown. When they fly, the white wings can be seen. The bill is yellow with a black tip. Three species have been recorded from Singapore: the Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus) which is a common winter visitor; the Javan Pond Heron (Ardeola speciosa) which is a rare winter visitor; and the Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) which is a very rare vagrant.
The above features a Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus) in its breeding plumage. It has a reddish brown head and neck, white belly and wings, and black back. This common winter visitor grows to about 45cm tall, and can be seen in marshlands and grasslands, or near rivers and ponds. It feeds on small animals, such as crustaceans, frogs, fishes and insects.
The Pacific Reef Egret (Egretta sacra) is an uncommon resident bird that is mostly found in coastal areas. This species has a dark grey morph and a white morph - the former is featured in the above photo. The legs and the bill are yellow.
The above photo features a Pacific Reef Egret in its white morph. It can be differentiated from other similar-looking species by the shorter legs. This species grows to about 60cm tall, and feeds mostly on small fishes, crustaceans and molluscs.
The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a very common winter visitor that can be seen in our coastal areas and near freshwater bodies, such as rivers, ponds and reservoirs. It has a white plumage, a black bill, and black legs with yellow feet (though some subspecies may have black feet). This species grows to about 60cm tall, and feeds on small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, insects, crustaceans, molluscs, and birds.
The Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) is a common winter visitor that can be found in our coastal areas and near freshwater bodies, such as rivers, ponds and reservoirs. Non breeding ones have a white plumage, yellow bill and black legs (and feet). Breeding ones have a black bill. This bird reaches height of about 70cm, and feeds on small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, insects, and crustaceans.
The Great Egret (Ardea alba), a common winter visitor, is the largest egret (about 100cm tall) that can be seen in Singapore. Like other migratory egrets, it can be seen in coastal areas and near freshwater bodies, such as rivers, ponds and reservoirs. Apart from the size, it can be differentiated from other egrets by the kink on the neck. Breeding ones have black bills, while the non-breeding ones have yellow bills. It feeds on small animals, such as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans and even small mammals and birds.
The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a very common winter visitor, though free-ranging birds from the Bird Park can be seen all year round. Non-breeding ones have a white plumage, yellow legs and a yellow bill. Breeding ones will have brownish orange heads and necks. In other countries, they forage around the grazing cattle, feeding on the insects disturbed by the latter, and hence the common name. This species grow to about 50cm tall, and is usually found in grasslands and open habitats. It feeds on small animals that live among the grasses, such as insects and frogs.
References
- Robson, C. 2010. New Holland field guide to the birds of South-East Asia. London: New Holland Publishers. 304 pp.
- Singapore Birds. Retrieved Mar 28, 2013, http://singaporebirds.blogspot.sg
- Strange, M. 2000. Photographic guide to the birds of Southeast Asia. Singapore: Periplus. 398 pp.
2 comments:
Two days back on the open grassland near St.Wilfred court around 1 am in the morning i spotted 2 big heavy size birds standing quietly on the grass.. at first i thought they were eagles judging from their height. It was only when i got closer i realized they were not eagles, but either a species of lapwings or egrets.. they did not have the typical egrets neck or beak, and their face appeared to have more lapwing appearances... judging from their movements i guessed it could be a species of night herons or egrets... though their size did not match any of the egret or heron species i know... in the dark their lower bodies (belly & wings) appeared as brown stripes & their backs dark grey... when they flew off the noise was quite loud...
Guess it's hard to guess what they are without photos...
Post a Comment