Amaurornis phoenicurus (Pennant, 1769)
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum/Division: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Gruiformes |
| Family: | Rallidae |
| Genus: | Amaurornis |
| Species: | A. phoenicurus |
| Common Names: | White-breasted Waterhen |
| Status: | Common resident |
Localities
Found throughout coastal areas in Singapore and its offshore islands.
Locality Map
General Biology
The White-breasted Waterhen frequents damp swampy vegetation in rural areas, orchards, marshes, mangrove, grassland, gardens, parks, canals. It is not found in the interior of forest. Its loud, repetitive croaky call can usually be heard in the evening. It regularly keeps its feathers in top condition by preening and sunning.
Diet
Aquatic snails, molluscs, worms, insects and their larvae, spiders, small fish, grass seeds and water plants. It even eat bananas.
A pair passed a cockroach to and fro for some time before one ate it up, a strange feeding behaviour.
Life Cycle
The nest is built at the edge of a pond or ditch. The clutch of 4-9 eggs are incubated for 20 days by both parents; chicks leave the nest as soon as they are hatched; and both sexes care for them (Taylor, 1996). The chicks are initilly all black, to gradually develop patches of white on the underside. It takes about six months before it develops the adult colours. The appearance of the sub-adult can be viewed HERE.
References
Taylor, P. B. 1996. Family Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots). In: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott & J. Sargatal (eds.), Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Editions, Barcelona. Pp. 108–209.
Wang, L. K. 2011. Rails. Pp. 426–427. In: Ng, P. K. L., R. T. Corlett & H. T. W. Tan (editors). Singapore Biodiversity. An Encyclopedia of the Natural Environment and Sustainable Development. Editions Didier Millet, Singapore. 552 pp.
Wang, L.K. & Hails, C.J. 2007. An annotated checklist of birds of Singapore. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Supplement 15: 1–179, Singapore.
Related Images
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Amaurornis phoenicurus
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Amaurornis phoenicurus
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27 Aug 2004
Related Activities/Events
Related Sounds
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Amaurornis phoenicurus
Sutari bin Supari
