Parques de Portugal

<p> <em>Ardeola ralloides </em>(Scopoli, 1769)</p>

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  • Squacco heron

  • Ardeola ralloides (Scopoli, 1769)

  • Ardeidae

  • The squacco heron is a small heron with a brown plumage and a white belly. It presents white tail and wings, pink legs and, in the mating season, a long plume on its nape, and a blue beak with a black tip. It can grow to be 49 cm long and have 86 cm span.

  • Paul do Boquilobo Nature Reserve

    Estuário do Tejo Nature Reserve

    Lagoas de Santo André e da Sancha Nature Reserve

  • Lisboa e Vale do Tejo

    Alentejo

  • Critically Endangered (migrating reproductive population) | Endangered (visiting pop.)

  • The squacco heron exists in moist areas with marsh vegetation, such as bogs, rice fields, weirs, nesting in areas with a dense tree and shrub vegetation close to water. 

  • Spring and Summer

  • The squacco heron feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates, small fish and amphibians. It gets its food by walking in shallow water or remaining still in wait, during the night and occasionally during the day.

  • The Portuguese population of this species is estimated to be between 5 and 15 couples.