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

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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 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

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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 BITTERNBotaurus lentiginosus

AMERICAN BITTERN

NESTING

Solitary nestersGround platform of cattails, reeds, or grasses

3 – 7 eggs

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LEAST BITTERNIxobrychus exilis

HIDING

NESTING

4 -5 eggs

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Heron Family

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