Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Nycticorax
Species: N. caledonicus
Binomial name
Nycticorax caledonicus

Subspecies
N. c. caledonicus (Gmelin, 1789)
New Caledonian Nankeen Night Heron
N. c. manillensis Vigors, 1831
Celebes Sea Nankeen Night Heron
N. c. crassirostris Vigors, 1839
Bonin Nankeen Night Heron (extinct)
N. c. mandibularis Ogilvie-Grant, 1888
Solomon Nankeen Night Heron
N. c. hilli Mathews, 1912
Common Nankeen Night Heron
N. c. pelewensis Mathews, 1926
Micronesian Nankeen Night Heron
Synonyms
Ardea caledonica
Gmelin, 1789

_The Nankeen Night Heron, Nycticorax caledonicus also commonly referred to as the Rufous Night Heron, and in Melanesia as Melabaob, is a medium-sized heron.
It is found throughout much of Australia (except the arid inland), Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Melanesia.

_The Nankeen Night Heron stands about 60cm tall. It is not strictly nocturnal. It often feeds during the day, especially during wet weather. The bird is dependent on a diet of small fish, reptiles, insects and sometimes eggs. It can be seen around freshwater rivers, lakes, bulrushes, estuaries, harbors and in residential fishponds for goldfish.

Voice: Loud "K-oark", deep-throated rumbling at roost.
Nesting: Primarily breeds September - April.
A nest platform is built of sticks in a high tree near water, in communal groups.
Eggs: 2-5 light green. Incubation 22 days.
Fledge: 42-49 days.

_Widespread throughout its large range, the Nankeen Night Heron is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Conservation status
Least Concern.

Redactie: info(at)rijskamp.com                           
Cagayan de Oro August 06, 2007

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