Africa Wild Bird Book

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072. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides (Ralreier)
Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Ardeidae

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides.jpg (47.97 KiB) Viewed 1085 times

Description
40-49 cm. Smaller than any other white heron, the Squacco Heron at rest appears mostly buffish or brownish. It is a tawny buff brown heron with a streaked head and back, and in breeding a black and white mane.
The nonbreeding adult has a head that is finely streaked in black, brown, and grey, forming a modest crown but no elongated plumes in nonbreeding season. The relatively large and powerful bill is pale green yellow with a black tip and top. The lores are dull yellow green. The irises are yellow. The hind neck, like the head, is finely streaked in black, brown and grey. The upperparts are buff brown with slight tawny tinge. The wings are white and are mostly concealed at rest by the back plumes. The plumes are shorter than in the breeding season. The rump and tail are white. Foreneck and breast are bright buff coarsely streaked in dark brown. The remaining underparts are white. The relatively short legs and the feet are dull yellow green.
In breeding plumage, the upper parts become brighter. The crown is a mane of yellow buff feathers. The crown feathers are slightly elongated and bordered with black. Several very elongated feathers (13-14 cm long) occur on the back of the crown. The lores are green or blue. The lower neck and back plumes are golden to cinnamon buff. The foreneck and breast are red gold. During courtship, the bill becomes bright blue except for the dark to black tip. The lores turn briefly blue before reverting via emerald to yellow green. The back is pink brown, with longest back feathers being golden and drooping over the wings. The legs are bright red in courtship, fading to pink after pairing.
The immature bird is similar to adults in nonbreeding, but drabber. It lacks the crest and back plumes. The bill is more uniform with a dark tip. The breast is more strongly streaked in dark brown. The underparts are grey rather than white. The flight feathers have a brown tinge and shafts, so that the wings appear to be mottled with brown. The tail also is washed with brown tint.

Distribution
Occurs from southern Europe to northern and sub-Saharan Africa. In southern Africa, it is locally common in the Caprivi Strip (Namibia), northern and south-eastern Botswana, Zimbabwe, central and southern Mozambique and South Africa.



Habitat
It generally prefers still freshwater habitats with dense fringing vegetation; flooded grassland and temporary pans with emergent vegetation.

Diet
It mainly eats a variety of small aquatic animals, doing most of its foraging at the water's edge, creeping through the water with its head held forward, ready to strike.

Breeding
Monogamous and usually colonial, living in small to large colonies, often alongside other bird species. The nest is built by the male in roughly 1-3 days, displaying on it until a female joins him to start a family. It consists of a compact platform of thin sticks and reeds, lined with grass and placed in a reedbed, bush or tree over water. Egg-laying season is almost year-round, peaking from August-March in Zimbabwe and South Africa and from March-August elsewhere in southern Africa. It lays 2-4 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for roughly 18-24 days. The chicks are fed by both parents, leaving the nest after about 35 days, but only flying approximately 20 days later.

Call
Usually silent, harsh squawks and clucks during breading season. Listen to Bird Call.

Status
Locally com­mon resident, sedentary and usually found singly.

[Toko]

072. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides

© pooky

© pooky

© Dewi

© PRWIN
Marievale, Gauteng

© steamtrainfan
Marievale, Gauteng

© Duke
Marievale, Gauteng

Links:
Sabap2
Species Text Sabap1
Heron Conservation
Oiseaux net

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075. Rufous-bellied Heron Ardeola rufiventris (Rooipensreier)
Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Ardeidae

Rufous-bellied Heron Ardeola rufiventris.jpg (71.76 KiB) Viewed 1083 times

Description
38-40 cm. A small robust all-dark species of heron with a dark grey head, back and breast contrasting with a rufous belly wings and tail. When seen in flight the bright yellow legs and feet contrast with the dark feathers of the underside of the body. At rest shows red-brown wings, belly and vent. It has a yellow bill with a black tip, yellow legs and feet. The lores, orbital skin and irises are yellow.
In breeding, the develop long back plumes, up to 10 cm long. It is likely that the irises turn orange; bill and lores, coral red; and legs, pink in courtship or breeding.
The female is duller more sooty brown and has a streaked throat and foreneck, with buffy gular stripe; base of bill greenish or orange-yellow.
Juveniles are paler and browner, darkening as they mature. It has buff-streaked head and neck.
Similar species: It is distinguished from the Black Heron by being smaller, its chestnut plumage and yellow (not black) legs.

Distribution
The Rufous-bellied Heron is found in eastern, central and southern sub-Saharan Africa widespread although absent from the arid south-west and is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In southern Africa it is rare, except along the Okavango, Linyanti and Chobe rivers and associated swamps in northern Botswana and in the Caprivi Strip. Elsewhere in Namibia there are scattered records from the north, including Bushmanland, with vagrant records from central Namibia. There were scattered records from along the Zimbabwe–Botswana border and elsewhere in Zimbabwe, mainly in the north and east. It is extremely scarce in Swaziland. In South Africa there are isolated records from the Transvaal and northeastern KwaZulu-Natal.



Habitat
It generally prefers flooded grassland and the shore of permanent water bodies (fringed by reedbeds).

Movements and migrations
Resident and sedentary on the Okavango Delta, while it is thought to be a breeding migrant to Zimbabwe in mid to late summer. It also breeds on the Nyl River flood plain, Limpopo Province in the period from December-May.

Diet
It forages by standing still or slowly moving through shallow water, stabbing any prey that comes too close. The diet consists mainly of small fish such as Tilapia and Barbus, amphibians, crustaceans, aquatic insects and other aquatic invertrebrates.

Breeding
Monogamous, solitary or colonial nester, sometimes breeding in groups of 2-4 pairs. The nest is a shallow platform of reeds and twigs, lined with grass or flowers. It is typically placed in a well-foliaged tree or bush, or alternatively in a Phragmites reedbed. Egg-laying season is nearly year-round. Eggs vary from pale blue to uniform deep turquoise. It lays 1-4 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for roughly 21 days. The chicks are able to fly at about 24 days old, and can fly strongly about week later.

Call
Usually silent; a rasping kraak.

Status
Uncommon summer resident and visitor.

[Toko]

075. Rufous-bellied Heron Ardeola rufiventris



© pooky
Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe

© PRWIN
Near Paradise pools, Botswana

Links:
Sabap2
Heron Conservation.The IUCN-SSC Heron Specialist Group
Oiseaux net - Crabier à ventre roux

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071. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (Veereier, Bosluisvoël)
Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Ardeidae

Western Cattle Egret ID.jpg (65.13 KiB) Viewed 1080 times

Description
Smallest of the white egrets. It has a height of 46-56 cm with a 88–96 cm wingspan. It is a stocky heron with a relatively short thick neck, sturdy bill, and a hunched posture. The legs are never black, but vary from dark brown to yellowish green, and are red at the start of the breeding season.
The non-breeding adult has pure white plumage, an orange or yellow bill. The eyes are red. The legs are often dark olive-brown, but may vary from dark brown to yellow, with black toes.
During the breeding season, adults develop orange-buff plumes on the back, breast and crown. The legs are yellow to pinkish in breeding season, the iris changes from yellow to red. Bill orange or red.
The sexes are similar, the male is marginally larger and has longer buff plumes during the breeding season than the female.
Juveniles lack coloured plumes and have a black bill and dark legs and feet.

Distribution
Historically confined to southern and eastern Asia and tropical Africa, but it has spread across the world, across southern Europe to north-eastern South America, Australia, New Zealand and southern Africa. Here it is common across most of the region, while more scarce in the arid parts of Namibia, Botswana and the Northern Cape.

Habitat
Essentially non-aquatic. It generally prefers open grassland, grassy savanna, man-made fields and agricultural land, occasionally moving to the seashore.

Diet
It mainly eats insects, takes also frogs and small mammals. It often associates with livestock and other large mammals, perching on their backs and either gleaning ectoparasites or hawking insects that they disturb when moving around.

Breeding
Monogamous, colonial nester, breeding in colonies of up to about 10 000 nests. Other waterbird species are often present in these colonies, although they are always greatly outnumbered by Cattle egrets. The nest is a small untidy platform of sticks in a tree or shrub constructed by both parents. Sticks are collected by the male and arranged by the female, and stick-stealing is rife. It is typically placed in a tree or reedbed over water, often close to touching the nests of other Cattle egrets. Egg-laying season is from June-July in Namibia, but from August-April elsewhere in southern Africa, peaking from September-December. The clutch size can be anywhere from one to five eggs, although three or four is most common. The pale bluish-white eggs are oval-shaped. Incubation lasts around 23 days, with both sexes sharing incubation duties. The chicks are partly covered with down at hatching, but are not capable of fending for themselves. They become capable of regulating their temperature at 9 – 12 days and are fully feathered in 13 – 21 days. They begin to leave the nest and climb around at 2 weeks, fledge at 30 days and become independent at around the 45th day.

Call
Mostly silent but raucous croaking around colonies. The call is a typical heron-like quiet, throaty aaaark or pok-pok.
Listen to Bird Call.

Status
Very common resident. Local nomadic movements recorded; highly gregarious.

[Toko]

071. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

© Toko
Breeding adult, West Coast National Park

© Mel
Breeding

© Dewi
Breeding

© Dewi
Non-breeding

© Amoli

Links:
Species text Sabap1
Sabap2
Heron Conservation

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062. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea (Bloureier)
Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Ardeidae

Description
Height 90-98 cm. Weight up to 2 kg. Bright white crown. Black line running from above and behind the eye to the nape and extending as a spike-like crest. White neck with a double row of black streaks down the throat. Underparts grey. Black patch from shoulder down to flanks. Grey back and wings. Long, yellow bill. Greenish-yellow legs and feet. All-grey underwing. Bill becomes bright orange and legs pinkish red at onset of breeding. Sexes alike.
In juveniles, the forehead, sides of the head and the centre of the crown are greyish (not white).
Similar species: White head and hindneck separate it from Black-headed Heron. In flight distinguished from Black-headed Heron by overall grey underwings. Juvenile is told from juvenile Black-headed Heron by light flanks, yellow (not dark) upper legs, white (not black) ear coverts.

Distribution
Across much of the Old World, from western Scandinavia, Britain and the Iberian Peninsula to sub-Saharan Africa. In southern Africa it is most abundant in Zimbabwe, northern and eastern Botswana and South Africa, while also occupying patches of Namibia and Mozambique.

Habitat
It generally favours shallow water bodies, such as estuaries, lagoons, rivers, lakes, the intertidal zone, marshes and dams.

Diet
It mainly eats fish, using three different hunting techniques: it can wait at one spot for prey to come within striking distance; it can walk carefully through shallow water before ambushing prey, or it just drops into the water from the air. Once it catches something, it manipulates the first to a head-first position before swallowing it.

Breeding
Monogamous and usually colonial, often breeding in mixed-species colonies, although it may also nest alone or in small groups. The male performs many different types of displays, including one in which it calls from a prominent perch before throwing its head upward and giving a loud yelp. The nest is mainly built by the female over the course of several days, consisting of a platform of large sticks with a central basin of reeds, lined with grass and other soft material. Sometimes, a new nest is built on top of an old one which transforms it into a massive structure. It is typically placed in a tree fork or bush, 1.5-2.0 m above water in a reedbed, or rarely on a cliff ledge or on the ground of a small island. Egg-laying season is year-round, peaking from July-January. It lays 1-4 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for about 23-28 days. The oldest chick is treated the best, as the younger siblings are often malnourished, in fact the youngest almost invariably dies before fledging. The chicks are brooded by both parents for roughly 18 days, and are still guarded 24/7 for another 11-12 days. They leave the nest at about 50 days old, becoming fully independent 10-20 days later.

Call
A harsh kraaunk in flight. Listen to Bird Call.

Status
Common resident.

[Toko]

062. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

© Toko
Mapungubwe National Park

© leachy

© leachy

© BluTuna

Links:
Species text Sabap1
Sabap2
Heron Conservation

[Flutterby]

063. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala (Swartkopreier)
Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Ardeidae

Description
84-92 cm. Its plumage is largely grey above, and paler grey below. The black-topped head and hind neck contrast with the white throat. In flight, it shows light under wings contrasting with black flight feathers.Black legs and feet. Eye yellow most of the year, but becomes red when breeding. Sexes alike.
Juvenile and immature have grey (not black) on the head and neck.
Similar species: It is distinguished from the Grey Heron by its slightly smaller size, black head and neck, slimness, and contrasting wings in flight. Grey Heron has a yellowish-orange bill and pinkish legs. The underwings of the Grey Heron are entirely grey whereas those of the Black-headed Heron have a thick black trailing edge.
Juvenile is distinghuished from juvenile and immature Grey Heron by the dark legs and thighs, dark ear coverts and underwing pattern.

Distribution
Occurs across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia south to southern Africa, where it is common in Zimbabwe and South Africa while more scarce in Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique.

Habitat
More often seen around open grasslands than around water.

Diet
It mainly eats terrestrial insects, supplemented with small mammals, reptiles and birds, doing most of its foraging solitarily. It hunts by slowly and purposefully moving through the grass, rocking its head from side to side; when it spots prey, it freezes and then strikes with its bill.

Breeding
Monogamous and usually colonial, breeding in small, mixed-species heronries. The male calls from a perch to attract a mate, raising its head and giving a loud yelp, sometimes extending its bill vertically as it does so. The nest is mainly built by the female with material provided by the male, consisting of an untidy platform of twigs, lined with leaves and other soft material. It is typically placed in the canopy of a tree or in a reedbed, rarely on a cliff ledge or the ground of a small island. Egg-laying season is year-round, peaking during the wettest months of the year. The eggs are pale green blue. It lays 2-4 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for about 23-27 days. The chicks leave the nest at about 52 days old, becoming fully independent roughly a week later.

Call
A loud aaaaark and various cackles and bill clapping at the nest. Listen to Bird Call.

Status
Common resident.

[Flutterby]

063. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala

038.JPG (100.54 KiB) Viewed 1101 times

© Flutterby

© Toko
It is a common bird in the Addo Elephant National Park.

© Mel
Juvenile

© Flutterby
Juvenile

© Mel
Heron with Scaly-feathered Finch in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

© nan

Links:
Species text Sabap1
Sabap2
Heron Conservation