Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, 28 April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Rufescent Tiger Heron
Latin: Tigrisoma lineatum
Other: Avetigre colorada (Es), Hocó colorado • Socó-boi (Br)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Mexico to Uruguay
Similar: Fasciated Tiger Heron juvenile

Adult Rufescent Tiger Herons have wonderful finely barred greyish wings and rufous head and neck with white stripes down neck, yellow lores and yellow or orange irises. They are not too shy so relatively easy to observe.

Juvenile Rufescent Tiger Herons are really stunning, with coarse barring - like a tiger. Pictured above, one which has caught an insect.

In the Pantanal in August, Rufescent Tiger Herons are abundant by the drying bodies of water, and frequently seen in ditches, on river banks and near ponds and lakes.

Below: An Adult Rufescent Tiger Heron on a mound, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011
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Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Boat Billed Heron
Latin: Cochlearius cochlearius
Other: Garça-real (Br) • Garcilla peinada (Es)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: South America - Panama to Brazil
Similar: Black-crowned Night Heron, Striated Heron

It’s unusual to see the Boat-billed Heron during the day, but night drives with a torch along waterways will usually produce several. They look rather strange (see further below) at night with their very broad bills.

The Boat-billed Heron pictured above was seen beside the Rio Claro, on an excursion from Rio Clarinho. Trips down the river from Rio Clarinho were a very good way to take in the beautiful scenery and see Agami Heron and Giant Otter because they don’t use engines (unlike Rio Claro Lodge) but punt instead.

During the day Boat-billed Herons look like they’re smiling. Generally unmistakeable by their very wide bills and buffy colouring - the most similar herons otherwise would probably be Black-crowned Night Heron or Striated Heron.

Below: Boat-billed Heron on the Rio Claro, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011
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Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Aug 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Agami Heron
Latin: Agamia agami
Other: Garça-da-mata (Br) • Garza agamí (Es) • Chestnut-bellied Heron
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Central America to Brazil
Similar: none

The Agami Heron is usually very difficult to see as it hides in the darkness of overhanging vegetation by the river’s edge, or in forest swamps, but what a stunner!

It is a medium sized heron with a very long pointed bill and beautiful dark red and green colouring to its feathers, with white markings down the neck. The juvenile, pictured further below, is much duller.

I saw Agami Herons with my in-house guide, Dodo, from Rio Clarinho Lodge (basic accommodation but recommended for this bird), who punted me down the Rio Claro river. We saw three different Agamis over about two hours, including one juvenile.

To notice them you really need to have eyesight than can pierce the darkness - or a very good guide. These photos were taken without flash at very slow speeds.

The birds moved very slowly, generally with neck retracted, and though initally very shy, after a while continued with their normal stalking behaviour, moving gracefully through the network of roots that reach down into the water from overhanging bushes and trees.

Below: An adult Agami Heron on the Rio Claro, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug, Sep 2011
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Copyright: monacoeye • Gamboa, Panama • 25 April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Striated Heron
Latin: Butorides striata
Other: Mangrove Heron, Little Heron • Garcita azulada (Es) • Socozinho (Br)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Tropics worldwide
Similar: Green Heron

The adult Striated Heron has a black cap and a pinkish grey throat, with white stripes. It has light markings on its sides which are diagnostic - each dark feather tip has a light surround - and yellow irises. The Striated Heron was formerly grouped with the Green Heron as the Green-backed Heron.

The adult Striated Heron above was not shy, standing on a pier by the Chagres River in Panama, after a big storm. In the Brazilian Pantanal in August, however, Striated Herons, though quite numerous, often retreated quickly when seen.

The juvenile, pictured directly below, is browner and more mottled than the adult, and has its own distinctive wing markings which form parallel lines near the wing edge. It was seen by the river edge.

Below: Juvenile Striated Heron in the Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011
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Copyright: monacoeye • Lagoa do Peixe, November 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Capped Heron
Latin: Pilherodius pileatus
Other: Garça-real (Br) • Garcilla peinada (Es)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: South America - Panama to Brazil
Similar:

The Capped Heron is a pretty, pastel-coloured heron, with black cap, light blue bill with pink fleck, cream neck and two or three long head feathers.

I saw them in a couple of places in the Pantanal, but they were often quite shy and retreated quickly. I saw one in the wetlands at Regua.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Little Blue Heron
Latin: Egretta caerulea
Other: Garceta azul (Es), garza azul • Garça-azul (Br)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Texas to Uruguay
Similar: Snowy Egret

The adult Little Blue Heron is an unmistakeable intense blue colour, with a touch of purple around the neck. Seen above at Rio Clarinho Lodge in the Pantanal - the only place I saw this bird. Much rarer than other similar sized herons and egrets.

Pictured below is a juvenile Little Blue Heron. Before gaining his blue-grey adult plumage, he could be mistaken for a Snowy Egret, as he is mostly white. This one was seen by the Chagres River in central Panama.

Below, juvenile Little Blue Heron, Gamboa, Panama, April 2010.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Whistling Heron
Latin: Syrigma sibilatrix
Other: Maria façeira (Br) • Garceta Chiflón (Es)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: South America
Similar:

The Whistling Heron is unmistakable with its blue lores and reddish-pink bill with black tip. An attractive heron.

The nominate form lives in southern Brazil and neighbouring countries - with another subspecies fostresmithi in the Venezuela region.

Below, a Whistling Heron in the Pantanal in August 2011.
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Copyright: TC/monacoeye • Tanzania, July 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black Headed Heron
Latin: Ardea melanocephala
Other: Héron mélanocéphale (Fr)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar
Similar: Grey Heron

The Black-headed Heron is a large African Heron similar to the Grey Heron but with black or very dark grey top of head and back of neck.
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Copyright: TC/monacoeye • Tanzania, Aug 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Goliath Heron
Latin: Ardea goliath
Other: Héron goliath (Fr)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa
Similar: Purple Heron, which is smaller.

The world’s largest heron - about 1.5 metres tall - seen here in Tanzania. Thanks to Tom for this photo.

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Perth, May 2008

Bird name: Pacific Reef Heron
Latin: Egretta sacra
Other: Eastern Reef Egret
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Southeast Asia to Australia and New Zealand

Possibly a Pacific Reef Heron? Yellow legs …

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Perth, May 2008

Bird name: Nankeen Night Heron
Latin: Nycticorax caledonicus
Other: Rufous Night Heron
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Widespread Australasia

A Nankeen Night Heron spotted in a park in Perth by Tania.

Copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France, January 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Western Cattle Egret
Latin: Bubulcus ibis
Other: Héron Garde-Boeuf (Fr) • Garcilla bueyera (Es) • Garça-vaqueira (Pt) • Airone guardabuoi (It)
Family: Ardeidae • Egrets
Range: North America, South America, Africa, Southern Europe to Central Asia

The IOC has split the Cattle Egret into Western and Eastern forms, the latter being found in Australasia. These were seen in the Camargue in southern France, so are Western Cattle Egrets.

The Western Cattle Egret has a short yellowy orange bill, hairy under bill, yellow iris, dark feet (generally), orange patches in breeding plumage. Smallest of the white egrets.

Below: Camargue, July 2009
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Copyright: TH/monacoeye • Australia, May 2008 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Eastern Cattle Egret
Latin: Bubulcus coromandus
Other:
Family: Ardeidae • Egrets
Range: South and East Asia, Australasia

The IOC has split the Cattle Egret into Western and Eastern forms. These were seen in Perth, Australia, so should be Eastern Cattle Egrets.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Danube Delta • May 2009

Bird name: Purple Heron
Latin: Ardea purpurea
Other: Héron pourpré (Fr) • Garza imperial (Es) • Airone rosso (It) • Garça-vermelha (Pt)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Europe, tropical Africa, Asia

These Purple Heron photos were taken in the Danube Delta in Romania - Purple Herons are found throughout southern Europe during the spring and summer. I have also seen them in river estuaries in Nice, the Camargue and Ventimiglia.

They are large birds, very similar to Grey Herons, but with deeper brown and rufous tones and stronger markings.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Gamboa, Panama • April 2010

Bird name: Green Heron
Latin: Butorides virescens
Other: Green-backed Heron • Garcita verde (Es)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: North and Central America

The Green Heron, (once called Green-backed Heron), is a small dark heron with black cap and rufous neck with white line down throat. Some greenish sheen on dark feathers. Yellow or orange legs.

These Panama birds had mostly yellow ceres and yellow or orange irises. Seen in the Chagres River, a few feet away from a Caiman - apparently not a threat - and in the Chiriqui highlands.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Mostardas, Brazil • November 2009

Bird name: Cocoi Heron
Latin: Ardea cocoi
Other: White-necked Heron • Garça Moura (Br) • Garza Morena (Es) • Garza Mora • Garza Cuca • Garzón
Family: Ardeidae • Herons

The Cocoi Heron is very similar to the Grey Heron we have in Europe, but the adult has a white neck. I saw it on the beach and in fields. The Cocoi Heron is present throughout Brazil and much of South America.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye.com • Danube Delta • May 2009 • Do not copy

Bird name: Squacco Heron
Latin: Ardeola ralloides
Other: Crabier Chevelu (Fr)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons, Storks & Ibises

Squacco Herons line many of the canals in Danube Delta.

Adults have blue beaks with black tips. Lores are sometimes bright green, presumably in courtship. Feet are yellow-orange and legs orange-pink becoming redder during courtship.

Plumage of juveniles and winter adults is strongly streaked around the neck. Legs are greenish and beaks less blue.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye.com • Danube Delta • May 2009 • Do not copy

Bird name: Black Crowned Night Heron
Latin: Nycticorax nycticorax
Other: Night Heron • Bihoreau Gris • Héron Bihoreau
Family: Ardeidae • Herons Storks & Ibises

Some areas of the Danube Delta wetlands are home to great numbers of Black-crowned Night Herons - (simply “Night Herons” in Europe).

In the breeding season, feet turn reddish, irises turn brighter red and the herons grow a couple of plumes. At other times feet are yellow and wings light grey.

The juvenile Night Heron has brown wings with white spots and a brownish neck with faint streaks.More photos...

Bird name: Grey Heron
Latin: Ardea cinerea
Other: Héron Cendré (Fr) • Gray Heron
Family: Ardeidae • Herons

Photos: monacoeye • Camargue • December 2008 & January 2009More photos...

026 Ardeidae • Herons, Bitterns - IOC 2.5 - 2010

Ardeidae (herons) and Threskiornithidae (ibises, spoonbills) are all in Pelecaniformes

Zonerodius heliosylus - Forest Bittern - New Guinea

Tigriornis leucolopha - White-crested Tiger Heron - W, C Africa

Tigrisoma lineatum - Rufescent Tiger Heron - Widespread Latin America
Tigrisoma fasciatum - Fasciated Tiger Heron - Costa Rica to N Bolivia, SE South America
Tigrisoma mexicanum - Bare-throated Tiger Heron - Mexico to Colombia

Agamia agami - Agami Heron - E Mexico to Amazonia

Cochlearius cochlearius - Boat-billed Heron - WC Mexico to NE Argentina

Zebrilus undulatus - Zigzag Heron - N, C South America

Botaurus stellaris - Eurasian Bittern - Widespread Eurasia - Africa, N Asia
Botaurus poiciloptilus - Australasian Bittern - SW, SE Australia, New Zealand
Botaurus lentiginosus - American Bittern - Widespread North America - Central America, Caribbean
Botaurus pinnatus - Pinnated Bittern - E Mexico to NE Argentina

Ixobrychus involucris - Stripe-backed Bittern - N, SE, SW South America
Ixobrychus exilis - Least Bittern - E, SW USA to SE Brazil
Ixobrychus minutus - Little Bittern - S, C Europe to C Asia, NW India, Africa. Eurasia, Africa
Ixobrychus dubius - Black-backed Bittern - E, SW Australia - Split from I. minutus
Ixobrychus sinensis - Yellow Bittern - Widespread Asia, also E Asia - Australasia
Ixobrychus eurhythmus - Von Schrenck's Bittern - E Eurasia - E Asia
Ixobrychus cinnamomeus - Cinnamon Bittern - Widespread Asia, also E Asia
Ixobrychus sturmii - Dwarf Bittern - Widespread Africa

Dupetor flavicollis - Black Bittern - Widespread Asia, Australasia

Gorsachius magnificus - White-eared Night Heron - S, E China
Gorsachius goisagi - Japanese Night Heron - Japan - SE China, Philippines
Gorsachius melanolophus - Malayan Night Heron - Widespread Asia
Gorsachius leuconotus - White-backed Night Heron - Widespread Africa

Nycticorax nycticorax - Black-crowned Night Heron - Worldwide except Australasia
Nycticorax caledonicus - Nankeen Night Heron - Widespread Australasia - New name

Nyctanassa violacea - Yellow-crowned Night Heron - E USA to Peru & E Brazil

Butorides virescens - Green Heron - E & C USA to Panama
Butorides sundevalli - Lava Heron - Galápagos Islands - Split from B. striata
Butorides striata - Striated Heron - Widespread South America, Eurasia, Africa, Australasia

Ardeola ralloides - Squacco Heron - Widespread Eurasia, Africa
Ardeola grayii - Indian Pond Heron - Persian Gulf to Burma, Maldive Islands
Ardeola bacchus - Chinese Pond Heron - E Asia
Ardeola speciosa - Javan Pond Heron - E Asia
Ardeola idae - Malagasy Pond Heron - Madagascar, Aldabra Island - C, E Africa
Ardeola rufiventris - Rufous-bellied Heron - E, C Africa

Bubulcus ibis - Western Cattle Egret - S Europe to Iran, Africa, Indian Ocean Is., North and Latin America. Eurasia, Africa, North America, Latin America - New name
Bubulcus coromandus - Eastern Cattle Egret - S, E Asia, Australasia - Split from B. ibis

Ardea cinerea - Grey Heron - Widespread Eurasia, Africa, Asia
Ardea herodias - Great Blue Heron - Widespread North America, Middle America
Ardea cocoi - Cocoi Heron - Widespread South America
Ardea pacifica - White-necked Heron - Australia, S New Guinea
Ardea melanocephala - Black-headed Heron - Widespread Africa
Ardea humbloti - Humblot's Heron - Madagascar
Ardea insignis - White-bellied Heron - E Himalayas
Ardea sumatrana - Great-billed Heron - Southeast Asia to N Australia
Ardea goliath - Goliath Heron - Widespread Africa
Ardea purpurea - Purple Heron - Widespread Eurasia, Asia, Africa
Ardea alba - Western Great Egret - North America, South America, Africa, Europe to C Asia - New name
Ardea modesta - Eastern Great Egret - S, E Asia to Indonesia and Australasia. Eurasia, Asia - Split from A. alba

Pilherodius pileatus - Capped Heron - E Panama to SE Brazil

Syrigma sibilatrix - Whistling Heron - N, SC, SE South America

Egretta intermedia - Intermediate Egret - Widespread Asia, Africa, Australasia - New name
Egretta picata - Pied Heron - Sulawesi to N Australia
Egretta novaehollandiae - White-faced Heron - Widespread Australasia
Egretta rufescens - Reddish Egret - S USA, Caribbean
Egretta ardesiaca - Black Heron - Widespread Africa
Egretta vinaceigula - Slaty Egret - SC Africa
Egretta tricolor - Tricolored Heron - SE USA to N South America
Egretta caerulea - Little Blue Heron - SE USA to S Brazil
Egretta thula - Snowy Egret - Widespread North America, Latin America
Egretta garzetta - Little Egret - Widespread Eurasia, Africa, Asia, Australasia
Egretta gularis - Western Reef Heron - W Africa, NE Africa to W India, Sri Lanka
Egretta dimorpha - Dimorphic Egret - E, Madagascar
Egretta sacra - Pacific Reef Heron - Southeast Asia to New Zealand
Egretta eulophotes - Chinese Egret - E Eurasia - SE Asia