heron family

HERON FAMILYfamily Ardeidae

order Ciconiiformes

Heron

s, Egrets

, Bitter

ns

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

PREY Foxes Minks Hawks Raccoons

Crows and tree-climbing snakes may rob unguarded nests.

MALES Aggressive – fight Harsh calls Elaborate & instinctive motions Bright colors

VISITORS TO PA Little Blue Cattle egret Snowy egret

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 HERONSmall –

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 EGRETCasmerodius albus

32” long & 55” wingspread, 2’ tall

CONSERVATION LAWS

DIETFish

Small mammalsAmphibians

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

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

YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

BLACK VS. YELLOW Longer legs Higher pitched call Yellow patch head Black & white head

DIET

Frogs Fish Lizards Salamanders Insects

NESTING

3-5 eggs

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

AMERICAN BITTERNBotaurus lentiginosus

AMERICAN BITTERN

NESTING

Solitary nestersGround platform of cattails, reeds, or grasses

3 – 7 eggs

LEAST BITTERNIxobrychus exilis

HIDING

FOOD

NESTING

4 -5 eggs