The Forest Wagtail reported by Richard Baxter earlier wasn't the only new taxa
for Australian territory found on Christmas Island today by Lisa Preston. We
also received photos of a heron she couldn't identify. My reply is copied below
The Heron,
This is a Striated Heron Butorides striata AKA by many other names including
Green-backed Heron Ardeola striatus etc. This species has a world-wide
distribution including Australia. There are 30 races or subspecies. The race
I've seen on Christmas Island when I could determine subspecies (there are
usually one or two around), is B. s. javanicus which breeds throughout SE Asia
and the Greater Sundas just to the north of CI. I have not seen one that looks
like your today's bird on CI or anywhere on mainland Australia where from two
to five races are recognised. Your bird is very distinctive in two ways. The
pattern of white stripes on the face, throat, foreneck and bend of wing and its
substantial crest. Our birds don't have a crest. These characters fit the race
amurensis which breeds in Japan, Korea, and adjacent areas of China but winters
in SE Asia. But the underparts of that race are grey like the upperparts
whereas on your bird the underparts are buff. So I wonder whether it could be
the race actophilus which breeds in southern China and also winters in SE Asia.
I don't know what that race looks like but since its range abuts that of
amurensis, I imagine they may share some characters. This is a new taxa for
Australia so should be written up. So some better photos will be most useful.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza VIC 3930
Tel (03) 9787 7136
==============================www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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