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Revision as of 16:59, 2 February 2011
- Nycticorax caledonicus
Identification
Distribution
Philippines and Sulu Archipelago, north and west Borneo and Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Palau and Solomon Islands and New Caledonia. Also breeds over much of Australia except the arid interior.
Taxonomy
Five subspecies are recognised. Race manillensis (dark rufous above) occurs in the Philippines and northern Borneo, hilli is found in Sulawesi, the Moluccas, New Guinea and Australia, pelewensis (dull maroon above) in the Palau Islands, mandibularis (pale stripe over eye absent) in the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomons and caledonicus (dull rufous-chestnut above)in New Caledonia. Race crassirostris from the Bonin Islands became extinct in the 19th Century.
Habitat
Lakes, swamps and rivers, mangroves and flooded grasslands.
Behaviour
The diet includes small fish, reptiles, insects and sometimes eggs.
It builds a nest platform out of sticks. It nests communally, near water. 2-5 light green eggs are laid, with a 22-day incubation followed by a 42-49 day fledging period.
