Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be small, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population is estimated to number c.2,000-20,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2006), roughly equivalent to 1,300-13,000 mature individuals. National population sizes have been estimated at c.100-10,000 breeding pairs, c.50-1,000 individuals on migration and c.50-1,000 wintering individuals in Taiwan and c.100-10,000 breeding pairs in Japan (Brazil 2009).
Trend justification
The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the extent of threats to the species.
Text account compilers
Ekstrom, J., Butchart, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Malay Night Heron Gorsachius melanolophus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/malay-night-heron-gorsachius-melanolophus on 18/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 18/12/2024.