Squacco Heron
Ardeola ralloides
Small stout heron; favors freshwater marshes, lakes, and ponds with reeds and other surrounding vegetation. Tends to hunt rather sluggishly, hunched quietly at the edge of the water. At rest, appears buffy brown overall, but in flight transforms to mostly white when white wings and tail are revealed. Breeding adult has a rich buffy neck; nonbreeding and immature have a streaked neck.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Ardeola ralloides
- Authority
- (Scopoli, 1769)
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Genus
- Ardeola
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
The squacco heron is a migrant, wintering in Africa. It is rare north of its breeding range. The species has been recorded in Fernando de Noronha islands, and more rarely in mainland South America, as a vagrant.<p>This is a stocky species with a short neck, short thick bill and buff-brown back. In summer, adults have long neck feathers. Its appearance is transformed in flight, when it looks very white due to the colour of the wings.<p>The squacco heron's breeding habitat is marshy wetlands in warm countries. The birds nest in small colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. Three to four eggs are laid. They feed on fish, frogs and insects.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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