Squacco heron

The squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides) is a small heron, 44–47 cm (17+1⁄2–18+1⁄2 in) long, of which the body is 20–23 cm (8–9 in), with 80–92 cm (31+1⁄2–36 in) wingspan.[2] It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Europe and the Greater Middle East.

Squacco heron
Ariège, France
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Ardeola
Species:
A. ralloides
Binomial name
Ardeola ralloides
(Scopoli, 1769)
Range of A. ralloides
  Breeding range
  Year-round range
  Wintering range

Behaviour

The squacco heron is a migrant, wintering in Africa. It is rare north of its breeding range. The species has been recorded in Fernando de Noronha islands, and more rarely in mainland South America, as a vagrant. This is a stocky species with a short neck, short thick bill and buff-brown back. In summer, adults have long neck feathers. Its appearance is transformed in flight, when it looks very white due to the colour of the wings.

The squacco heron's breeding habitat is marshy wetlands in warm countries. The birds nest in small colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. Three to four eggs are laid. They feed on fish, frogs and insects.

  • Flying in Cyprus
    Flying in Cyprus
  • Composite showing changes during breeding
    Composite showing changes during breeding

Etymology

The English common name squacco comes via Francis Willughby (c. 1672) quoting a local Italian name sguacco. The current spelling comes from John Hill in 1752.[3]

The scientific name comes from Latin ardeola, a small heron (ardea), and ralloides, Latin rallus, a rail and Greek -oides, "resembling".[4]

Breeding

The Squacco Heron uses freshwater localities throughout Europe and the Middle East as breeding grounds to later migrate south to the Sub-Saharan African region. Non-breeding Squacco Herons share similar traits with other heron species like the Indian Pond Heron and Malagasy Pond Heron which show tawny color plumage, lighter streaking, smaller bill, and narrower wing tips.[5]

Ardeola ralloides eggs

References
  1. BirdLife International (2018). "Ardeola ralloides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22697123A131940696. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22697123A131940696.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. Snow, David William; Perrins, Christopher, eds. (1997). The Birds of the Western Palearctic [Abridged]. OUP. ISBN 0-19-854099-X.
  3. Lockwood, W.B. (1993). The Oxford Dictionary of British Bird Names. OUP. ISBN 978-0-19-866196-2.
  4. Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 54, 330. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  5. "HeronConservation » Squacco Heron". Retrieved 2022-03-19.
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