Striated Heron

The striated heron is 35–48 cm (14–19 in) in length, weighs 130–250 g (4.6–8.8 oz) and has a wing-span of 52–60 cm (20–24 in). The sexes are alike. The plumage is variable below, from mid grey to pinkish-purple or orangey toned. Adults have a blue-grey back and wings, white underparts, a black cap, a dark line extends from the bill to under the eye and short yellow legs. Juveniles are browner above and heavily streaked below.

It is widespread in tropical and warm temperate South America, from central and southeastern Panama south to Río Negro Province in Argentina. It is generally a lowland bird, found in marshes, lakes and rivers, in Peru up to an altitude of 800 m, thus avoiding the Andes mountains. In Trinidad and Tobago and in central Panama, it overlaps slightly in range with the closely related green heron and hybridises with it; hybrids are intermediate between the two species, generally much more purple-red below than typical striated herons.

These birds stand still at the water's edge and wait to ambush prey, but are easier to see than many small heron species. They mainly eat small fish, frogs and aquatic insects. They sometimes use bait, dropping a feather or leaf carefully on the water surface and picking fish that come to investigate.