Striated Heron.
Photo: Purnell Collection © Australian Museum
Distribution map of Butorides striatus
Map © Birds Australia Birdata
Striated Heron
Scientific name: Butorides striatus
Family: Ardeidae
Order: Ciconiiformes
- Featured Bird Groups
- Water birds
What does it look like?
Description
The Striated Heron is a small, squat water bird with short legs, a black crown and a small, drooping crest. There are two colour morphs (forms). The grey morph has a grey face, throat and neck streaked centrally with black, dark brown and white. The dark grey upperparts have a metallic green sheen and pink-brown to grey underparts. The wings are also green grey, with each feather outlined yellow. The eye is yellow outlined with dark grey, the bill is black and the legs and feet are orange in breeding season (otherwise, dull yellow). The rufous (reddish) morph is similar, but has rich rufous or cinnamon brown underparts and the upper wing feathers are outlined rufous to cinnamon brown. Young birds are darker and heavily streaked and mottled. This species has a characteristic hunched posture, pulling its head closely into its body, and flicks its tail downwards as it stalks prey on mudflats. It is also known as the Mangrove Heron or Mangrove Bittern.
Similar species
The Striated Heron is similar to the smaller (30 cm) Little Bittern, Ixobrychus minutus, which is more chestnut brown with orange-brown wing patches.
Where does it live?
Distribution
The Striated Heron is found along the coast of mainland Australia, from Shark Bay, Western Australia, across northern Australia, to Cape York, Queensland, and south to Mallacoota, Victoria. It is more common in the north, with numbers falling abruptly south of Sydney, New South Wales. It is also found in North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Guinea and Pacific islands.
Habitat
The Striated Heron is found in mangroves and intertidal flats. It can become tame around marinas and boat ramps.
Seasonal movements
Sedentary.
What does it do?
Feeding
The Striated Heron feeds on crabs and other crustaceans, as well as molluscs and small fish. It stalks prey slowly, either standing and waiting for prey to emerge or may sometimes plunge at it from a perch, before stabbing it with its sharp bill.
Breeding
The Striated Heron nests in mangroves, building rough, flimsy stick platforms about 3 m to 9 m over water. Both sexes share nest-building, egg incubation and care of young. Two broods may be raised in a season.