Native Animals

Gallicrex cinerea

Watercock
LC
Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
ver 3.1, 2016
QR Code
SSN 21496
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Taxonomy

The taxonomic status is pending for approval

Gallery  

Description

The Watercock or Gallicrex cinerea is a waterbird species that are quite secretive but sometimes is seen out in the open. It’s usually found in marshes, rice fields and behind the coastal mangroves.

The male size is bigger than the female. The differences can also be seen in term of their body colour in which for male, they have blackish with brown scaling on wings and back, rufous beneath tail; red legs and mainly red bill and shield on forehead while for the female, they have dark brown on the upperparts and paler underparts (Jeyarajasingam & Pearson, 2012). The plumage is streaked and barred with darker markings.

This species feeds mainly on insects, small fish and seeds with their bill in mud or shallow water. They forage on the ground and also picking up food by sight.

Habitats

No Description Suitability Seasonality
1
Artificial - Aquatic → Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land
Suitable Non-breeding
2
Artificial - Aquatic → Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land
Suitable Breeding
3
Wetlands → Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands [generally over 8 ha]
Suitable Non-breeding
4
Wetlands → Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands [generally over 8 ha]
Suitable Breeding
References : http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes/habitats-classification-scheme-ver3

Assessment

Year Published Assessment Red List Category Version
2016 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Least Concern (LC)
3.1
2012 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Least Concern (LC)
3.1
2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Least Concern (LC)
N/A
2009 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Least Concern (LC)
N/A
2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Least Concern (LC)
N/A
2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Least Concern (LC)
N/A
1988 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Least Concern (LC)
N/A

Structure

Beak / Bill
Color
 
Yellow
Legs (Male)
Color
 
Red

Location

by State Location
  • Kedah 1
  • Pahang 1
  • Penang 1
  • Perak 1
Based on publications, specimens, and images

Biodiversity Experts

Profile
Abdul Rahman (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
  • Birds
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Forest
  • Protected Areas
  • Wildlife Trade
  • PM
Azmi Mat Ali (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
  • Birds (Taxonomy)
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Wildlife Trade
  • PM
Farah Shafawati Mohd Taib (Dr.)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
  • Birds
  • Mammals
  • Rodents
  • Treeshrews
  • Squirrels
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Data Analysis
  • Ecosystems
  • Taxonomy
  • PM
Ismail Bin Hj. Mamat (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
  • Birds
  • Biodiversity
  • Protected Areas
  • Invasive Alien Species
  • PM
Meor Amran Bin Meor Zulkifilee (Mr.)
Birdgroup Taman Negara (BGTN)
  • Birds
  • Business
  • Environment
  • Forest
  • Management
  • Tourism
  • PM
Mohammad Shahfiz Azman (Mr.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
  • Amphibians
  • Mammals
  • Birds
  • Amphibians
  • Reptiles
  • Awareness
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Forest
  • Landscape
  • Law and Policy
  • Management
  • Protected Areas
  • Science
  • Systematics
  • Invasive Alien Species
  • Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries (LMMC)
  • National Policy on Biological Diversity
  • Policy
  • Research and Development (R&D)
  • Zoonotic
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
Mohd Abdul Muin Bin Md Akil (Mr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
  • Amphibians
  • Birds
  • Reptiles
  • Snakes
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Evolution
  • Genetics
  • Molecular
  • Protected Areas
  • Climate Change
  • Invasive Alien Species
Rahmah Binti Ilias (Mrs.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
  • Birds
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Protected Areas
  • Invasive Alien Species
  • PM
Rosli Hashim (Prof. Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
  • Birds (Ecology)
  • Mammals (Ecology)
  • Spiders
  • Insects
  • Biodiversity
  • Protected Areas
  • PM
  • W
Rosli Ramli (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
  • Mammals (Ecology)
  • Birds
  • Biodiversity
  • Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
  • Protected Areas
  • Marine & Coastal
  • PM
  • W
Syaizwan Zahmir Zulkifli (Dr.)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
  • Birds (Ecology)
  • Fishes (Ecology)
  • Molluscs (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Marine & Coastal
  • Water
Yeap Chin Aik (Mr.)
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)
  • Birds (Ecology)
  • Awareness
  • Biodiversity
  • Biological Resource
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Education
  • Forest
  • Landscape
  • Management
  • Protected Areas
  • Traditional Knowledge (TK)
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
PM - Peninsular Malaysia; SBH - Sabah; SWK - Sarawak; SEA - Southeast Asia; W - World;

References

Article
  1. Azman, N.M., Abdul Latip, N.S., Shahrul Anuar, M.S., Mohd Abdul Muin, M.A., Shafie, N.J. & Khairuddin, N.L. (2011). Avian Diversity and Feeding Guilds in a Secondary Forest, an Oil Palm Plantation and a Paddy Field in Riparian Areas of the Kerian River Basin, Perak, Malaysia. Tropical Life Sciences Research (TSLR) 22 (2), 45–64
  2. Sodhi, N.S., Briffett, C., Lee, B.P.Y-H. & Subaraj, R. (1999). An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Pulau Tioman, Peninsular Malaysia. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplements (6), 125-130
  3. Azman, N.M., Abdul Latip, N.S., Shahrul Anuar, M.S., Mohd Abdul Muin, M.A., Ahmad, A. & Shafie, N.J. (2014). Diversity and Temporal Distribution of Birds in Rice-Growing Landscape, Northern Peninsular Malaysia. Sains Malaysiana 43 (4), 513-520. http://www.ukm.my/jsm
Book
  1. Field Guide to the Waterbirds of ASEAN, 2018. ASEAN-Korea Environmental Cooperation Unit (AKECU), South Korea. pp. 300.
  2. MNS Bird Conservation Council. 2015. A Checklist of the Birds of Malaysia Second Edition. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Nature Society - Bird Conservation Council, Malaysia. pp. 60.
  3. Asyraf, M., Mohd Abdul Muin, M.A., Shahrul Anuar, M.S. & Rahmad, Z. (2015). Pictorial Guide To The Plant and Bird Life of Byram Mangrove Forest, Penang. Penerbit USM, Malaysia. pp. 190.
  4. Davison, G.W.H. & Chew, Y. F. (1995). A Photographic Guide to Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. New Holand Ltd. pp. 144.
  5. Francis, C.M. (1998). A Pocket Guide To The Birds of Borneo, Third Edition. The Sabah Society, Malaysia.
  6. Gregory-Smith, R. (1995). The Birds of Sarawak: A Pocket Checklist. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia. pp. 21.
  7. Hazebroek, H.P., Adlin, T.Z. & Sinun, W. (2011). Danum Valley: The Rain Forest. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Malaysia. pp. 615.
  8. Jamaludin, H., Yatim, H.S.H., Abu Hashim, A.K., Saaban, S., Hassan, H., Othman, A. & Mohd Nor, D.H. (2007). Avifauna: Taman Negara: Senarai Spesies. Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara Malaysia (PERHILITAN), Malaysia. pp. 44.
  9. Jamaludin, H., Yatim, H.S.H., Abu Hashim, A.K., Saaban, S., Hassan, H., Othman, A. & Mohamad Rufino, B.M. (2007). Avifauna: Paya Indah Wetlands: Senarai Spesies. Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara Malaysia (PERHILITAN), Malaysia. pp. 21.
  10. James, G., Mendis, T. & David, L. (2012). 2nd Edition Migratory Birds of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. pp. 92.
  11. Myers, S. (2009). A Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo. Simon Papps, Singapore. pp. 272.
  12. Rosla, M. (2014). Burung-burung di Semenanjung Malaysia: Hak Milik Kita yang Terlepas Pandang, Volume 1. Red Door To Hunt, Malaysia. pp. 369.
  13. Jeyarajasingam, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press, Oxford. pp. 449.

Acknowledgements :- Ms. Adibah Syahirah Binti Mohd Mansor, Mr. Ahmad Amir Firdaus Bin Mad Apandi, Ms. Aida Salihah Binti Abu Bakar, Ms. Ajla Rafidah Baharom, Mrs. Aziemah Binti Kinan, Ms. Norayuni Binti Ramlee, Mrs. Nur Hazwanie Binti Abd Halim, Ms. Nurfarhana Hizan Binti Hijas, Ms. Nurliyana Binti Abd Rahman, Ms. Nursyafiqa Madzlen, Ms. Nurul Atikah Abu Bakar, Ms. Siti Zubaidah Binti Abdul Latif, Mr. Tan Kok Kiat & Mr. Yasser Mohamed Arifin

Photo credit :- Koay Zhong Ying

Species Citation :- Gallicrex cinerea. Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). Accessed via https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/21496. [Retrieved 04 December 2023].

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Website Citation: MyBIS (2023). Malaysia Biodiversity Information System. Published on the Internet https://www.mybis.gov.my/, Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Malaysia Biodiversity Centre & Forest Research Institute Malaysia. [Retrieved 04 December 2023].