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Western Reef Heron | Egretta gularis
The Western Reef Heron is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Ardeidae bird family group which includes birds such as Egrets, Herons, Bitterns. The description for the Western Reef Heron (Latin name Egretta gularis) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Egretta gularis can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of and the detailed description of this bird is on page 586. You will find a picture of the Western Reef Heron on page 592. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Western Reef Heron between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition The Western Reef Heron has a height of 60 cms and weighs around 400 gms. The head is coloured white while the bill is coloured black. The Egretta gularis has a white coloured throat, yellow legs and a white coloured back. The eyes are yellow. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is white Eyes are yellow Bill is black Legs are yellow Throat is white Back is white Feeding Habits ...This bird forages for food on the ground This bird has a specially adapted bill which helps it hunt for fish, crabs, shrimp and other aquatic animals in the water. This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten . Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...You can see the Western Reef Heron bird on coastal regions and on the sea shore where the bird will be foraging with other birds Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...It is also seen in flocks |
