HERON FAMILY family Ardeidae order Ciconiiformes

HERON FAMILYfamily Ardeidae

order Ciconiiformes

Herons,

Egrets,

Bitterns

Green Heron

Great Egret

Great Blue

HeronYellow Crowned

Night Heron

Black-Crowned Night Heron

Least Bittern

American

Bittern

Close to shore

Wade in deeper water

Motionless near log or bank

Reeds

Reeds

Shallow at night

Shallow at night

Shy

Strong fliers

S-shape

Migratory

ADAPTATIONS

Legs

Toes

Bill

Neck

Powder down areas of feathers

Serrated middle claw

PREDATORS/CARNIVORES

NESTING

Defend territory

Colonies – rookeries

Solitray

Mixed colonies – herons

Stick nest – trees – herons & egrets

Grass nest – ground – bitterns

Incubation 2 ½-4 week depending upon species

Some incubate when 1st egg is laid

Altricial - remaining in nest 2 -3 weeks

FEEDING YOUNG

Regurgitate

Partly digested food

Whole fish, frogs, snakes

Trigger

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=wOA3VuNW0VPEsM&tbnid=dwnLtjblSJ7DxM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fworld.std.com%2F~eva%2Fflorida.html&ei=fsnpUrfnKc-2sAS9qoCIBQ&psig=AFQjCNHPUER4mmFL76_oTCIZtIPVA5c7bQ&ust=1391139562590923

PREY

Foxes

Minks

Hawks

Raccoons

Crows and tree-climbing snakes may rob

unguarded nests.

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MALES

Aggressive – fight

Harsh calls

Elaborate & instinctive motions

Bright colors

VISITORS TO PA

Little Blue

Cattle egret

Snowy egret

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GREAT BLUE HERON

38” long and 70” wingspan

Largest of dark herons

Ardea herodias

EGGS

Incubation by both sexes -28 days

3-6

3 weeks Mom & dad feed chicks

HABITAT

Saltwater or freshwater

Remote

Near trees

Loss

Propagation areas

GREEN-BACKED HERON

Small –

14” long & wingspread 25”

Butorides striatus

HABITAT

NESTING

Shrubs

Trees

Orchards

Pair

Loose colony

Not as friendly as blue

Twigs & sticks

Flimsy

Male selects & starts

Female finishes

GREAT EGRET

Casmerodius albus

32” long & 55” wingspread, 2’ tall

CONSERVATION LAWS

DIETFish

Small mammals

Amphibians

Insects

HABITAT Colonies

10-50 trees

Beech & red maple

w/other heron species

Swamps

Lakes

Ponds

Susquehanna river shallows

Islands and mudflats

Habitat

NESTINGNest lined with leaves,

moss, grass

3-4

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

Nycticorax nycticorax

FOOD

Carnivore

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HABITAT

Fresh, salt and brackish waters,

Forests

Thickets

even city parks!

NESTING

3-5 eggs

Incubation 24-26 days Both sexes build nest 2-5 days

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YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

BLACK VS. YELLOW

Longer legs

Higher pitched call

Yellow patch head

Black & white head

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DIET

Frogs

Fish

Lizards

Salamanders

Insects

NESTING

3-5 eggs

Incubation 24-26 days Both sexes build nest 2-5 days

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AMERICAN BITTERN

Botaurus lentiginosus

AMERICAN BITTERN

NESTING

Solitary nestersGround platform of cattails, reeds, or grasses

3 – 7 eggs

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LEAST BITTERN

Ixobrychus exilis

HIDING

FOOD

NESTING

4 -5 eggs

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HERON FAMILY family Ardeidae order Ciconiiformes