142. NYCTICORAX MANILLENSIS Vigors.
PHILIPPINE NIGHT HERON.
- Nycticorax manillensis Vigors, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1831), 98; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1898), 26, 162; Hand-List (1899), 1, 198; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 34.
- Nycticorax manilensis Oates, Cat. Birds’ Eggs (1902), 2, 125.
Cuak-cuak, Bohol.
Bantayan (McGregor); Basilan (Everett); Bohol (McGregor); Caluya (Porter); Camiguin N. (McGregor); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Cebu (Everett, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Leyte (Everett); Luzon (Lindsay, Cuming, Whitehead); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Platen, Steere Exp.); Mindoro (McGregor); Negros (Everett, Bourns & Worcester, Keay); Panay (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Samar (Bourns & Worcester); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester); Siquijor (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor). Western Celebes and northern Borneo.
Adult (sexes similar).—Above deep maroon; crown and crest greenish black; long nuchal plumes whitish except at base and tip; a narrow eyebrow stripe light chestnut mixed with whitish; below white, throat more or less pervaded with chestnut; sides of face neck and breast chestnut; under wing-coverts, axillars, and thighs light chestnut mixed with white. Bill black; skin around eye dark green; legs yellow, nails black. “Bill black; feet pale ocherous-white, brown in front and upper part of toes; orbital skin yellowish green; iris golden yellow.” (Everett.)
Male.—Length, 635; culmen, 70; wing, 317; tail, 117; tarsus, 79.
Adult female.—Similar to the male in color. Length, 559; culmen, 76; wing, 381; tail, 123; tarsus, 81.
“Young.—Wings conspicuously chestnut; spots and streaks on upper surface deep rufous or light chestnut; breast very broadly streaked with black. ‘Bill brown, lower mandible dirty yellowish; legs light greenish yellow, claws gray; iris golden yellow.’ (Everett).” (Sharpe.)
“Quite common, but very local in its habits. Feeds at night. Roosts during the day in lofty trees, frequently choosing trees which stand out in the open.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)