Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
Tigrisoma mexicanum
A large but rather short-legged, primal-looking heron of mangroves and freshwater marshes in tropical lowlands. Often in areas with trees, but also around ponds in rather open marshes. All plumages have naked yellow throat skin (not always easy to see), greenish legs. Adult has gray cheeks, finely barred plumage, and rusty thighs; immature is boldy barred blackish and warm brown (hence the name ‘tiger-heron’).
Identification
The throat is bare and is greenish-yellow to orange in all plumages. The adult has black crown and light grey sides of the head, the sides of the neck and the upperparts otherwise blackish narrowly barred buff. The median stripe down the fore-neck is white-bordered with black; the remaining underparts are dull cinnamon brown. The juvenile is buff coarsely barred with black, more mottled and vermiculated on wings; the throat, median underparts, and belly are whitish.<p>The flight is heavy, and the call is a hoarse howk-howk-howk. Males also give a booming hrrrowwr! call, especially at sunset. During emission of the call, the beak opens wide and undulations can be seen along the course of the throat from mid-thorax caudally.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Tigrisoma mexicanum
- Authority
- Swainson, 1834
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Genus
- Tigrisoma
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni
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Yellow-vented Eremomela
Eremomela flavicrissalis
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Island Canary
Serinus canaria
Restricted to the Azores, Canary Islands, and Madeira. Slightly bigger than European Serin and yellow-green overall with a pale bill, and a dark forked tail. Has a streaky rump, but this can be hard to see. Males are greenish-yellow below while females are duller and grayer on the breast and neck. The song is very melodic and rich. Found in forests, plantations, gardens, and orchards, sometimes gathering in flocks. Introduced to the Midway Atoll, where coloration ranges from unstreaked bright yellow to almost white.
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