The great-billed heron is a large bird, typically standing 115 cm (45 in) tall and weighing up to 2.6 kg (5.7 lb). It is larger than the purple heron, which it resembles in appearance, although it is larger and darker. The plumage is largely dark grey above. In flight, it has a uniform dark grey upperwing.[2]
The flight is slow, with its neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks. The species feeds in shallow water, spearing fish with its long, sharp bill. It will wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim.
Distribution and habitatedit
The great-billed heron has a very large range, occurring in much of coastal Southern Asia and Australasia including Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Its habitats are largely coastal such as islands, coral reefs, mangroves, large rivers. However, occasionally, it can be found inland in shallow ponds.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abBirdLife International (2016). "Ardea sumatrana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22697028A95222998. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697028A95222998.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^McKilligan, Neil (2005). Herons, Egrets and Bitterns: Their Biology and Conservation in Australia. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN9780643091337.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ardea sumatrana.
BirdLife Species Factsheet
December 18, 2023
great, billed, heron, great, billed, heron, ardea, sumatrana, wading, bird, heron, family, resident, from, southeast, asia, papua, guinea, australia, adult, palawan, philippinesconservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryo. The great billed heron Ardea sumatrana is a wading bird of the heron family resident from southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea and Australia Great billed heronAdult in Palawan PhilippinesConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PelecaniformesFamily ArdeidaeGenus ArdeaSpecies A sumatranaBinomial nameArdea sumatranaRaffles 1822 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 References 4 External linksDescription edit nbsp JuvenileThe great billed heron is a large bird typically standing 115 cm 45 in tall and weighing up to 2 6 kg 5 7 lb It is larger than the purple heron which it resembles in appearance although it is larger and darker The plumage is largely dark grey above In flight it has a uniform dark grey upperwing 2 The flight is slow with its neck retracted This is characteristic of herons and bitterns and distinguishes them from storks cranes and spoonbills which extend their necks The species feeds in shallow water spearing fish with its long sharp bill It will wait motionless for prey or slowly stalk its victim Distribution and habitat editThe great billed heron has a very large range occurring in much of coastal Southern Asia and Australasia including Australia India Indonesia Malaysia and the Philippines Its habitats are largely coastal such as islands coral reefs mangroves large rivers However occasionally it can be found inland in shallow ponds 1 References edit a b BirdLife International 2016 Ardea sumatrana IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22697028A95222998 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22697028A95222998 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 McKilligan Neil 2005 Herons Egrets and Bitterns Their Biology and Conservation in Australia CSIRO Publishing ISBN 9780643091337 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ardea sumatrana BirdLife Species Factsheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Great billed heron amp oldid 1110055473, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
