The herons are long-legged freshwater and
coastal birds that can be found on each continent
except on Antarctica.
Although herons resemble birds in some other
families, such as the storks and cranes, they
differ from these in flying with their necks
retracted, not outstretched.
They mainly eat fish, but their diet also
includes frogs, small mammals and birds, reptiles,
and insects where they hunt by quickly straightening
their S-shaped neck toward the victim.
With 64 different species of herons that differ
in size, color and type of habitat, stay with
us as we are looking at the 10 of the most
beautiful herons in the world.
Number 10.
Found in Africa, Asia and Europe, the purple
heron is similar in appearance to the more
common grey heron but is slightly smaller,
more slender and has darker plumage.
It is most active at dawn and dusk, roosting
with other birds in the middle of the day
and at night, but increasing its diurnal activity
while rearing young.
There are estimated to be a total of between
270,000 and 570,000 purple herons in the world
and the population is probably decreasing
slowly.
But, the IUCN has assessed its conservation
status as being of "least concern because
the rate of decline is insufficient to justify
it in a more threatened category.
Number 9.
The black heron, also known as the black egret
is found mainly on the eastern half of Africa
and in Madagascar.
Preferring shallow open waters, this bird
is well known for canopy feeding where it
uses its wings like an umbrella creating shade
that attracts fish.
Generally black in color, this bird grows
long plumes on the crown and nape in breeding
plumage.
As a species of a very large range, this bird
is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN
Red List.
Number 8.
The great egret, also known as the great white
heron is a widely distributed egret across
most of the tropical and warmer temperate
regions of the world.
The species breeds in colonies in trees close
to large lakes with reed beds or other extensive
wetlands by forming monogamous pairs each
season.
It is such a beautiful bird in breeding plumage
where delicate ornamental feathers are borne
on the back.
In North America, large numbers of great egrets
were killed around the end of the 19th century
so that their plumes could be used to decorate
hats.
Numbers have since recovered as a result of
conservation measures, making it now being
listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Number 7.
The tricolored heron, formerly known as the
Louisiana heron, is native to coastal parts
of the Americas.
This bird stalks its prey in shallow or deeper
water, often running as it does so, where
its diet are usually fish, crustaceans, reptiles
and insects.
They generally look blue-grey with a white
line along the neck, but in breeding plumage,
they have long blue filamentous plumes on
the head and neck, along with buff ones on
the back.
Number 6.
The grey heron is native throughout temperate
Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa.
It is resident in much of its range, but some
populations from the more northern parts migrate
southwards in autumn.
This species breeds in colonies known as heronries,
usually in high trees close to lakes, the
seashore, or other wetlands.
They have the ability to live in cities where
habitats and nesting space are available.
In the Netherlands, it has established itself
over the past decades in great numbers in
urban environments.
In cities such as Amsterdam, they are ever
present and well adapted to modern city life.
They hunt as usual, but also visit street
markets and snackbars.
Some individuals make use of people feeding
them at their homes or share the catch of
recreational fishermen.
Number 5.
Inhabiting the Amazonian rainforest from the
center of Panama to the south of Brazil, the
capped heron is superficially similar to the
group of the night herons, but is active during
daytime or at twilight.
This species is very distinct from other herons,
being the only one with a blue beak and face,
and a black crown.
The juveniles are very similar to the adults.
They only differ in body length and that the
white feathers are slightly grey.
These herons are strongly territorial, where
one bird might chase another away from a foraging
site, until the other bird settled high in
a tree.
As a species with an extremely large range,
this bird does not approach the thresholds
for a Vulnerable rating under the range-size
criterion.
The population size has not been quantified,
and the trend is not known, but it is not
believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable
under the population size or trend criteria.
For these reasons the species is evaluated
as Least Concern.
Number 4.
The green heron is a small heron of North
and Central America where the body length
of an adult is about 44 cm (17 in).
Adults have a glossy, greenish-black cap,
a greenish back and wings that are grey-black
grading into green or blue.
The species is most conspicuous during dusk
and dawn, and if anything these birds are
nocturnal rather than diurnal, preferring
to retreat to sheltered areas in daytime.
Green herons are one of the few species of
bird known to use tools.
In particular, they commonly use bread crusts,
insects, or other items as bait.
The bait is dropped onto the surface of a
body of water in order to lure fish.
When a fish takes the bait, the green heron
will then grab and eat the fish.
Number 3.
Found in South America, the whistling heron
occurs at altitudes up to 500 m in seasonally
flooded savanna, often in drier grassy situations
than other herons,
but also in a wide variety of open waterlogged
or shallowly submerged terrain.
Because it roosts in trees, it particularly
likes regions where open areas are mixed with
woodlots.
Although patchily distributed, it is common
in many areas, with no population considered
vulnerable.
It has no objection to human-altered habitats
such as pastures and roadsides, and it often
perches on fenceposts.
Indigenous peoples formerly used its neck
plumes as trade items, though not so heavily
as to reduce populations.
Thus, this heron is currently assessed as
Least Concern by the IUCN.
Number 2.
The yellow-crowned night heron, is one of
two species of night herons found in the Americas,
the other one being the black-crowned night
heron.
It is a rather stocky wading bird.
The neck, slim when extended, gives the bird
a comically large head compared to its body,
with a large and heavy bill.
It takes about three years for yellow-crowned
night herons to acquire the full physical
appearance of adults.
Before that, the young birds show signs of
immaturity such as a brownish body, drab colors
and spots and streaks on their plumage.
Unlike the black-crowned night heron, the
yellow-crowned does not mind living near humans
and can be found in wooded neighborhoods,
nesting on rooftops and driveways.
Such cohabitation however may not go smoothly
and can create conflicts with humans.
Number 1.
Also known as the chestnut-bellied heron,
the agami heron is a resident breeding bird
from Central America south to Peru and Brazil.
In Brazil it is sometimes called Soco beija-flor,
meaning 'hummingbird heron' because of its
unique coloration pattern.
Despite its stunning plumage, its preference
for shade and overhanging vegetation means
that it is rarely seen.
This, and the fact about it being a quiet
bird, make it challenging for conservationists.
Its remote habitat and secretive behavior
may explain its apparent rarity.
However, it is considered as Vulnerable by
the IUCN Red List due to future habitat loss
in the Amazon.
