Ardeola ralloides
The Squacco Heron is a small, stocky heron with distinctive buff-brown plumage and white wings. Its back and crown are streaked with dark brown, while the neck and chest display fine brown striations. The bird has a robust blue-green bill and greenish-yellow legs.
During the breeding season, adults develop long, white plumes on their heads and back. Juveniles are similar to non-breeding adults but have darker streaking and lack the ornate plumes.
Length
40cm to 49cm
Wingspan
76cm to 84cm
Weight
225g to 370g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Buff Brown
Secondary Colour
White
Beak Colour
Blue Green
Leg Colour
Green Yellow
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Squacco Herons inhabit a variety of freshwater and brackish wetlands, including marshes, swamps, and the edges of lakes and slow-moving rivers. They are found across southern Europe, much of Africa, and parts of western and southern Asia.
During breeding season, they are more common in Europe and western Asia, while wintering populations concentrate in sub-Saharan Africa. In the UK, they are rare vagrants, occasionally spotted during migration.
Up to 2,000 meters
Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Squacco Heron. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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