China (mainland) (P), Hong Kong (China) (P), Indonesia (NB), Japan (B), Philippines (NB), Russia (Asian) (NB), South Korea (NB), Taiwan (China) (B) (NB) (P).
Vagrant to Brunei Darussalam (NB), Palau (NB).
Breeds in southern Japan, on Honshu, Shikoku and possibly Kyushu; winters from Ryukyu Is, Volcano Is and south-eastern China to Philippines.
 
Population
Estimated population is 1,000 - 2,499 (2010) and decreasing.
Japanese Night Heron (Gorsachius goisagi) [XC483075]
by Sunny Tseng from Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea (song)
Japanese Night Heron (Gorsachius goisagi) [XC661525]
by id from Dongyin Nursery, Taiwan (call)
Subspecies
May form superspecies with Malayan Night-Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus).
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Malayan Night-Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus) which has black cap and long crest.
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9