Striated Heron

1. Nombre del ave
English name: Striated Heron
Scientific (Latin) name: Butorides striata

2. Aspecto
The Striated Heron, also known as the Mangrove Heron or Little Heron, exhibits an understated elegance, with its predominantly slate-grey feathers, coupled with striking greenish-yellow legs. The adults boast a beautiful back, decked with dark striations (or thin lines), which bequeaths the bird its name ‘striated’. They demonstrate a captivating contrast with a bright white throat that extends down to the belly but is intercepted by a distinct grey breast. To add to the avian allure, there is a pop of rich azure in the adults as they possess a deep blue-black crown that matches their darkly tipped beak. Sporting round, dark eyes, the striated heron appears piercing and inscrutable. Male and female herons are strikingly similar in aspect, making them sexually monomorphic.

3. Tamaño
The striated heron is a petite species with an average length of 44-47 cm (17-18.5 inches). The wingspan does not exceed 64 cm (25 inches), and they weigh between 200 – 500 grams (7 – 18 ounces).

4. Hábitat y distribución
The Striated Heron is a cosmopolitan species, nesting comfortably in subtropical and tropical areas in both hemispheres. It lays claim to a vast geographical range, from West and East Africa, across Asia, to as far east as Japan and Australia and even across the Americas. This bird is primarily found in coastal areas and freshwater habitats such as riverbanks, marshy lands, ponds, and mangroves.

5. Datos de interés
Despite their ubiquity, Striated Herons have some fascinating characteristics. They are solitary birds, preferring their own company to social gatherings and can exhibit distinctive bait-fishing behavior. The heron will drop a piece of leaf or twig onto the water’s surface to lure curious fish, seizing its prey as it comes to explore. Their acute intelligence extends to their nesting strategy, where they often build their nests hidden in trees or reeds to protect them from predators.

6. Dieta
Striated Herons are primarily carnivorous, their diet dominated by fish and insects. They also consume amphibians, crustaceans, small reptiles, and occasionally smaller birds.

7. Comportamiento y sonidos
This reclusive bird is typically quiet. However, during the breeding season, their vocalization becomes apparent, with a distinctive ‘skyow’ or ‘skuee’ call. They have an interesting hunting posture, standing motionless in shallow water, waiting for prey to approach before they strike swiftly.

8. Estado de conservación
Despite the Striated Heron’s widespread distribution, its conservation status according to the IUCN Red List is ‘least concern.’ This means there are no immediate threats to their populations.

9. Vida útil
Striated Herons have a fairly long life expectancy, living up to 20 years in the wild. In captivity, they can live up to 25 years due to the removal of some natural threats.

10. Notas adicionales
In different countries and regions, this bird is known by various names. While it is referred to as the ‘Green-backed Heron’ in North America, it goes by ‘Sasagoi’ in Japan. The Striated Heron is a part of numerous folklore tales in different cultures, often associated with patience due to their hunting strategy. Their presence in an ecosystem is essential for maintaining healthy mangrove forests by controlling the population of smaller animals and insects that they feed on. They are also known to be relatively tolerant to human proximity, but colonies can be disturbed easily, leading to mass desertion.