A Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, standing on a fallen treetrunk at the edge of the Chobe River in Chobe National Park, Botswana, southern Africa.
Squacco herons are shorter and more ‘squat’ than the Grey Heron we’re most familiar with in northern Europe. It has a tawny-buff colour, which gets deeper in the breeding season, when it also develops long plumes for display. When it flies, it becomes apparent that its wings are a contrasting pure white.
Squacco Herons are found over patches in North Africa and in most of sub-Saharan Africa not always breeding there). It also breeds in parts of Europe and the Middle East. The northern populations are migratory. Their preferred habitat is dense, shallow, fresh marshes with tall reeds or dense bushes nearby to provide cover. Some populations have recently taken to using rice paddies as a habitat.
Squacco Herons normally hunt in the early morning and evening, on their own, crouching still until they see prey like small fish, amphibians and insects in the water or shore below.
Squacco Herons are currently systemetised as a super species with Indian, Chinese and Javan Pond Herons, the four being closely related in the Ardeola family.
This image is copyright © Liz Leyden. All rights strictly as agreed in writing with the author or her agent.
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My original photo of a Squacco Heron, on which this image is based, is available to licence as a stock photo from my portfolio at Alamy.
