Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Squacco Heron
| Squacco Heron | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific Classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Ardeola ralloides Scopoli, 1769 |
The Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, is a small heron. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Europe and the Middle East. It is a migrant, wintering in Africa. It is rare north of its breeding range.
This is a stocky species with a short neck, short thick bill and buff-brown back. In summer, adults have long neck feathers. Its appearance is transformed in flight, when it looks very white due to the colour of the wings.
Their breeding habitat is marshy wetlands in warm countries. They nest in small colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. 3-4 eggs are laid.
These herons feed on insects, fish and amphibians.
Last updated: 10-13-2005 03:50:30
10-26-2009 08:16:03
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details