Magpie heron
| Magpie heron | ||||||||||||
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Magpie Heron in Tasitolu ( East Timor ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Egretta picata | ||||||||||||
| ( Gould , 1845) |
The Pied Heron ( Egretta picata ) is a common in the region indoaustralischen herons . It is a relatively small heron with a dark slate-gray body plumage, a dark skull and a slender white neck.
features
The magpie heron is a rather dainty heron and grows to 43 to 55 cm long. They weigh an average of 240 grams. Its plumage is predominantly slate gray. However, the throat and chest are white. He wears a slate-gray cap on his head. Its beak is relatively long and yellow in color. Young birds have brown spots on their necks and a white skull.
Adult magpie herons are not to be confused with any other species in their range. Young birds can be confused with the young birds of the white-necked heron . However, these have black legs, a gray to black beak, and noticeable black spots on the front neck. Magpie herons can be seen individually, but occasionally form flocks of several hundred birds. Along the course of a river, however, between 20,000 and 30,000 individuals have already been counted over a distance of 15 kilometers. They are often socialized with other herons.
distribution
The habitat is mainly mangroves , as well as coastal rivers, lakes, swamps and rice fields. The magpie heron breeds along the north coast of Australia and in the south of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi . Outside the breeding season, it can also be found in New Guinea and the Moluccas .
behavior
Magpie herons mainly feed on aquatic insects . Frogs and small fish also play a role. They only look for food in very shallow water. When foraging for food, they walk slowly in the manner typical of herons and keep pausing.
They breed in large colonies and are often associated with other species of heron, ibises and cormorants . The colonies of the parental heron can be very large and consist of between twenty and 1,200 nests. The nests are made of twigs and are built on tall trees. There the female lays two to four eggs , which both parents incubate for about three weeks.
supporting documents
literature
- PJ Higgins (Ed.): Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds , Volume 1, Ratites to Ducks, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1990, ISBN 0195530683
- Peter Rowland. Birds in australia. Giessen 2000.
- Josep del Hoyo et al .: Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Lynx Edicions, 1992, ISBN 84-87334-10-5 .
Web links
- Egretta picata in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed on December 22 of 2008.
- Factsheet at birdlife.org
- Videos, photos and sound recordings for Egretta picata in the Internet Bird Collection