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mangroves index
  Online Guide to Chek Jawa
mangroves
 
Striated heron
Butorides striatus
Family Ardeidae
click for enlarged image
Striated herons are probably the most numerous herons in our region. However, they are quiet, well-camouflaged birds that require a keen eye to spot. While some Striated herons are resident throughout the year, during the northern winter, Striated herons from the north do visit Singapore.

Striated Food: Striated herons don't hunt in groups, but several of these birds may be spaced out over the mudflats or along the shore and among the mangrove tree roots. At low tide, a Striated heron often perches motionless in a typical crouch waiting for suitable prey. Or they might move about slowly over the mudflats. They will catch anything that they can kill and swallow, mostly small fishes, crabs, insects and frogs. Like other herons, it also has long legs and a long, strong bill. Although the Striated heron doesn't look like it has a long neck, it does indeed have one. This can snap out suddenly to grab unsuspecting prey nearby. Among its prey are fishes, crabs and prawns.

Striated Babies: The Striated heron's nest is a small but thick pile of sticks built low in a tree near water. They usually nest in mangroves. About three greenish-blue eggs are laid.
 
quick facts
About 46cm, common in the mangroves but often overlooked
 
Links
Green-backed heron on Canada's Aquatic Environments webpage on the University of Guelph website: fact sheet on the birds found in North America with photos, description, distribution, reproduction, ecology, behaviou, sound clip of vocalisation

Other references
  • Strange, Morten, 2000. A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Malaysia and Singapore. Periplus, Hong Kong. 398 pp.
  • Strange, Morten, 2000. Tropical Birds of Malaysia and Singapore. Periplus Editions, Hong Kong. 64 pp.
  • Strange, Morten & Allan Jeyarajasingam, 1999. A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Sun Tree Publishing Limited, Singapore. 258 pp.
  • Strange, Morten, 1998. Birds of South-East Asia: A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia. New Holland Publishers. 112 pp.
  • Lim, Kim Seng and Dana Gardner, 1997. An Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds of Singapore. Sun Tree Publishing Limited, Singapore. 226 pp.
  • Hails, Christopher & Frank Jarvis. 1995 (ed). Birds of Singapore. Times Edition, Singapore. 168 pp.
  • Davidson, G. W. H. & Chew Yen Fook, 1995. A Photographic Guide to Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. New Holland Publishers, UK. 144 pp.
  • Briffett, Clive, 1986. A Guide to the Common Birds of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore. 160 pp.
  • Madoc, G. C., 1947 (1992 4th ed). An Introduction to Malayan Birds. The Malayan Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur. 227 pp.
  • Bucknill, John A. S. & Chasen, F. N., 1927 (1990 ed.). Birds of Singapore and South-east Asia. Tynron Press, Scotland. 247 pp.

 

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