EGRET
Egretta eulophotes 68 cm F: Ardeidae
Description: Photo shows breeding plumage; long crest and bright yellow bill and toes are diagnostic; orbital skin blue. In winter, only its longer legs and narrow bill distinguish it from the previous species.
Voice: Generally silent.
Habits: Occupies a narrow niche of tidal mudflats near estuaries; does not occur inland or on rocky shorelines. Confusion with the Pacific Reef-Egret is possible during winter months, although this species feeds more actively, sometimes running through shallow water with open wings to stir up prey.
GREAT EGRET
Egretta alba 90 cm (Casmerodius albus) F: Ardeidae
Description: Huge size, long neck and strong bill are diagnostic. Bill is yellow (photo) during non-breeding season. During breeding season, bill is black and legs are reddish.
Voice: Sometimes a low, crow-like kraa-a when taking off.
Habits: Occurs in all types of wetlands, including coastal mangroves, estuaries and wet fields. Walks slowly or stands quietly, singly or in a small group, on the lookout for aquatic prey. Scattered groups may gather together at prime locations during winter months and can be very numerous locally.
PLUMED EGRET (Intermediate Egret)
Egretta intermedia 70 cm, Mesophoyz intermedia F: Ardeidae
Description: A medium-sized bird. Its fairly short yellow bill is diagnostic.
Voice: Usually silent, except for a deep kroa-kr when taking off.
Habits: Found in the company of other egrets, mostly in freshwater marshes and fields, but also on tidal mudflats and along estuaries. Generally less numerous than the Great Egret and Little Egret. Walks slowly in the search of small fish, frogs and insects.
LITTLE EGRET
Egretta garzetta 60 cm F: Ardeidae
Description: A small and slender egret. Note diagnostic thin, black bill and yellow feet. Feet black in Javan (nigripes) race which occurs in Singapore and Malaysia.
Voice: Usually silent, except for croaking calls at its nest.
Habits: The most common of the egrets, numerous at both freshwater and tidal wetlands. An attractive bird that feeds by walking quickly or running through shallow water, stirring up and chasing aquatic prey. Flocks disperse while feeding, but congregate at evening roosts and in breeding colonies.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
Nycticorax nycticorax 61 cm F: Ardeidae
Description: Unmistakable; legs red during breeding. Immature bird is brown, dotted with white.
Voice: A penetrating, deep wo-ok when taking off.
Habits: Spends the day roosting in trees above water in mangroves or swamps. In early evening flocks disperse, flying slowly, high in the sky, on their way to feed in ponds and marshes during the night, returning during the morning. Huge breeding colonies in the region have been known to contain tens of thousands of birds.
MALAYAN NIGHT-HERON
Gorsachius melanolophus 48 cm F: Ardeidae
Description: Photo shows immature plumage. The adult is a uniformly dark rufous colour with a blackish cap, missing on the similar Japanese Night-Heron, G. goisagi which is sometimes seen in the region.
Voice: A series of deep oo notes.
Habits: Very secretive, staying inside flooded forests and overgrown lowland swamps. Also seen near cultivation during migration. Feeds mainly on insects, molluscs, small amphibians, reptiles and sometimes fish. Nocturnal and not often observed; breeding habits and movements little studied.
YELLOW BITTERN
Ixobrychus sinensis 38 cm F: Ardeidae
Description: Small, slender, pale bittern. Note diagnostic black wingtips. Immature bird streaked with brown.
Voice: A short kakak-kakak when taking off.
Habits: Prefers freshwater swampland habitat. Lives among tail, dense marsh and riverside vegetation, where it climbs around at the bottom of the reeds, stalking aquatic invertebrates and tiny fish. Secretive and crepuscular in habit; sometimes seen clearly when it flies briefly out of the vegetation.
SCHRENCK'S BITTERN
Ixobrychus eurhythmus 38 cm F: Ardeidae
Description: Photo shows female. Male has uniformly pale brown under-parts contrasting with
