Goliath Heron

Goliath Heron
In Lake Baringo, Kenya
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Pelecaniformes
Family:	Ardeidae
Genus:	Ardea
Species:	A. goliath
Binomial name
Ardea goliath Cretzschmar, 1827
Synonyms
Garza goliath

The Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath) is a very large wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller numbers in Southwest and South Asia.

Description

This is the world's largest heron. The height is 120–152 cm (47–60 in), the wingspan is 185–230 cm (73–91 in) and the weight is 4–5 kg (8.8–11 lbs). In flight it has a slow and rather ponderous look and, unlike some other herons, its legs are not held horizontally. Male and female look similar, with an overall covering of slate gray and chestnut feathers. The head and its bushy crest, face, back and sides of the neck are chestnut. The chin, throat, foreneck and upper breast are white, with black streaks across the foreneck and upper breast. The lower breast and belly are buff with black streaks. The upper mandible is black and the lores and orbital areas are yellow with a greenish tinge. The eyes are yellow and legs and feet are black. Juveniles look similar to the adults, but are paler.

Habitat

Important habitats are lakes, swamps, mangrove wetlands, with few cool water, sometimes river deltas.

Diet

Goliath Herons feed on fish, frogs, small mammals and insects. A diurnal and often rather inactive feeder, this heron hunts by standing in the shallows, or on floating vegetation, intently watching the water at its feet. As prey appears, the heron rapidly spears it with open mandibles.

Breeding

Its breeding season is from November to March. These birds build a large stick nest in trees overhanging water, on the ground and in low bushes.

Bibliography

A Goliath heron (Ardea goliath) standing by Lake Baringo, Kenya

• BirdLife International (2008). Ardea goliath. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 9 February 2009. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern.
• BonarVMD, Christopher J.; LewandowskiDVM, Albert H. (2004). "Use of a Liposomal Formulation of Amphotericin B for Treating Wound Aspergillosis in a Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath)". Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 18 (3): 162–166. doi:10.1647/2003-003. 
• Mock, Douglas W.; Mock, Karilyn C. (Jul., 1980). "Feeding Behavior and Ecology of the Goliath Heron". The Auk 97 (3): 433–448. JSTOR 4085837. 
• El-Naffar, M. K.; Khalifa, R. M.; Sakla, A. A. (1980). "Parasitofauna of the Egyptian aquatic birds. II. Trematode parasites of the giant heron (Ardea goliath) in Assiut governorate.". Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology 10 (1): 107–116. ISSN 1110-0583. http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/19800871646.html;jsessionid=CD39C9955A239D294EE01510D8EA2BCD. 
• Hunter Jr., Malcolm L.; Calhoun, Aram; Wilcove, David S. (2004). "Goliath Heron Fishing with an Artificial Bait?". Waterbirds 27 (3): 312–313. doi:10.1675/1524-4695(2004)027[0312:GHFWAA]2.0.CO;2. 
• Mock, Douglas W.; Mock, Karilyn C. (Jul., 1980). "Feeding Behavior and Ecology of the Goliath Heron". The Auk 97 (3): 433–448. JSTOR 4085837.