- Amaurornis phoenicurus
Identification
32cm. Dark grey upperparts and flanks, white face, neck and breast, cinnamon belly and undertail. The body is flattened laterally to allow easier passage through the reeds or undergrowth. They have long toes, a short tail and a yellow bill and legs. Sexes are similar, but immature birds are much duller versions of the adults. The downy chicks are black.
Distribution
Southern Asia, the Philippines, the Malay Archipelago and many smaller islands including Nicobar Islands, Sulawesi, Moluccas, and the Lesser Sunda Islands.
Taxonomy
Plain Bush-hen (A. olivacea), Rufous-tailed Bush-hen (A. moluccana), and Talaud Bush-hen (A. magnirostris) were formerly considered conspecific within White-breasted Waterhen.
Subspecies1
- A. p. phoenicurus - S Asia, Malay Archipelago and Philippine Islands
- A. p. insularis - Andaman and Nicobar islands
- A. p. midnicobarica - Central Nicobar Islands
- A. p. leucomelana - Sulawesi, w Moluccas and Lesser Sundas
Habitat
Marshes.
Behaviour
They nest in a dry location on the ground in marsh vegetation, laying 6-7 eggs.
They probe in mud or shallow water; or they forage on the ground or in low bushes and small trees. The diet includes insects, small fish and seeds.
References
- Clements James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2008. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
