Order: Pelecaniformes

Family: Ardeidae

 

Size:  up to 65 cm in length

Weight:  up to 400 g

 

Key Features: thin, medium-sized heron occurs in two distinct forms, one of which has mostly dark slaty-grey plumage and a white throat, while the other has predominately white plumage. During the breeding season, both forms develop red lores and distinctive plumes on the head, chest and back. The legs are dark, while the feet are bright yellow, except during the height of courtship when they turn pinkish red.

 

Voice: makes a low ‘kwok’ or grating sounds when disturbed or near the nest.

 

Breeding: Breeding occurs between April and July and also in October, with some individuals forming solitary pairs, whilst others gather in small colonies of up to 100 pairs. The nest is a platform of twigs and seaweed positioned on the ground, in reedbeds and mangroves, and on ledges or rocks. Although very little is known about the movements of the western reef-egret, some populations appear to disperse widely after breeding and may be partially migratory.

 

Diet: comprised of fish, crustaceans and molluscs.

 

Habitat: It is a coastal species, occurring mainly on rocky or sandy shores and reefs, but is also found around estuaries, mudflats, salt marshes, mangroves, tidal creeks and lagoons.

 

Habits: These birds stalk their prey in shallow water, often running or stirring the water with their feet or flicking their wings to disturb prey; they may also stand still and wait to ambush prey.

 

Conservation Status: Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

 

 

 

 

 

References:

BirdLife International (2014) Species factsheet: Egretta gularis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on July 03rd, 2014.

 

Grewal, B., Harvey, B. and Pfister, O. (2002) A Photographic Guide to the Birds of India and the Indian Subcontinent, Including Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Princeton University Press, Princeton.

 

del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (1996) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

 

Kushlan, J.A. and Hancock, J.A. (2005) Bird Families of the World: Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

 

Photo Courtesy

Kaippally, Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons