Pied Heron
| Pied Heron | |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Pelecaniformes |
| Family: | Ardeidae |
| Genus: | Ardea |
| Species: | A. picata |
| Binomial name | |
| Ardea picata (Gould, 1845)[1] |
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| Distribution. Green: year-round breeding, blue: nonbreeding. | |
| Synonyms | |
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The Pied Heron (Ardea picata), also known as the Pied Egret[3] is a bird found in coastal and subcoastal areas of monsoonal northern Australia as well as some parts of Wallacea and New Guinea.
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[edit] Taxonomy
The species was originally described by ornithologist John Gould in 1845. Some taxonomists put this species in the genus Egretta. There are no recognised subspecies.[4]
[edit] Description
It is a small heron, 43–55 cm long, with dark slaty wings, body, and crested head, with a white throat and neck. The appearance is similar to the White-necked Heron.[3] Males (247–280 g) are heavier than females (225–242 g), but the two are similar in appearance.[5]
Immature birds lack the crest as well as the dark colouring on the head and may look like small versions of the White-necked Heron. The juveniles were once classified as a separate species.[5]
[edit] Distribution and habitat
Its habitat mainly comprises a range of wetlands and wet grasslands.
[edit] Behaviour
[edit] Call
The call of the Pied Heron is a loud 'awk' or 'ohrk' in flight.[3] Soft cooing is given around the nest.[5] Little else is known about vocalisations.[5]
[edit] Breeding
Breeding takes place from February to May.[3] It nests in trees above the water, including mangroves, often colonially with other species of heron. 1–2 blue-green eggs are laid in a shallow platform of sticks.[3]
[edit] Feeding
It feeds on insects, frogs, crabs, fish and other small aquatic animals. Insects are the most important source of food.[5] It may feed alone or in groups of up to a thousand individuals.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ BirdLife International (2008). Ardea picata. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 9 February 2009. Database entry includes justification for why the species is listed as least concern.
- ^ BirdLife International (2006) Species factsheet: Ardea picata. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3727 on 25/02/2010
- ^ a b c d e Pizzey, Graham; Knight, Frank (1997). Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Sydney, Australia: HarperCollinsPublishers. p. 111. ISBN 0 207 18013 X.
- ^ "Pied Heron, Egretta picata, Taxonomy". http://www.damisela.com/zoo/ave/otros/ciconi/ardei/day/picata/taxae.htm. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Kushlan, James Anthony; Hancock, James, Thelwell, David (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press. p. 170. ISBN 0198549814.
[edit] Bibliography
- Marchant, S.; & Higgins, P.J. (Coordinators). (2000). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol.1: Ratites to Ducks. Oxford University Press: Melbourne. ISBN 978-0-19-553068-1
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ardea picata |
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Wikispecies has information related to: Ardea picata |
