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
Brisbane, QLD
________________________________
From: David James <>
To: Birding-aus <>
Cc: "" <>; Nikolas Haass
<>; Jeff Davies <>
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 6:55 AM
Subject: Christmas Island Unknown Heron Identification
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
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