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This is a very common breeding resident found throughout the country. It is found across south and Southeast Asia from Pakistan to Indonesia.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as “Least Concerned” (National Red List 2012).

This is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

I have observed this species throughout the country wherever there is water associated habitat with some amount of vegetation. Swamps, paddy fields, Tanks, wetlands canals associated with patches of tangled vegetation is always inhabited by a pair of these birds. They are quite noisy birds and often making their characteristic continuous calls from some thicket which has resulted in their name in Sinhala. Other than animal prey they will feed on a good amount of vegetable matter as well. The chicks are black in colour and would follow the adults until they are big enough to fend for themselves

The birds in our garden at Wilpattu frequently visit the feeding station where left-over cooked rice is put out in the evening for the nocturnal animals. They jerk their short tail up as they walk exposing the chestnut coloured under tail overs. This is a very common species in Wilpattu and can often be seen in and around the park where there is suitable habitat.