{"id":42253,"date":"2022-11-24T12:01:50","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T11:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parcsaintecroix.com\/?post_type=animal&p=42253"},"modified":"2026-06-03T11:10:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T09:10:24","slug":"hairy-heron","status":"publish","type":"animal","link":"https:\/\/parcsaintecroix.com\/en\/animals\/hairy-heron","title":{"rendered":"Hairy heron"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Homepage<\/a><\/span> Hairy heron<\/span><\/span> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> <\/div>\n\n
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Hairy heron<\/h1>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
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A heron with a surprising appearance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The squacco heron lives up to its name. During the breeding season, its head is adorned with long brown and white tufts that form a veritable \u201cmane,\u201d immediately distinguishing it from other herons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its plumage ranges from fawn to light brown, perfect for blending into the reeds. Yet, the moment it takes flight, the surprise is complete. Its entirely white wings create a striking contrast that instantly catches the eye.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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IUCN status<\/h2>\n \n

The International Union for Conservation of Nature\u2019s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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\n NA<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

No evaluated<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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\n DD<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

Data deficient<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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\n LC<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

Least Concern<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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\n NT<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

Near threatened<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Vulnerable<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Endangered<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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\n CR<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

Critically endangered<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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\n EW<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

Extinct in the wild<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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\n EX<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

Extinct<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/clipPath>\n <\/defs>\n<\/svg> \n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/clipPath>\n <\/defs>\n<\/svg><\/section>\n\n\n
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Description<\/h2>\n \n

Ardeola ralloides<\/p>\n \n

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Ardeidae<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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250 \u00e0 300 g<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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47 cm<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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Europe, Africa, and South America<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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Least Concern<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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11 years<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Did you know?<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n
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The squacco heron particularly favors freshwater marshes or ponds with dense vegetation, which are areas rich in biodiversity.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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It spends its time alongside other colonies, such as gray herons or egrets, which roost in willows, poplars, or thickets of reeds.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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This bird is also a migrant. It returns to our regions around May and departs in August for tropical Africa, where it spends the winter.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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Food<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n
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Although the bald ibis appears calm, it is nonetheless a skilled predator. Its diet consists mainly of frogs, small fish, aquatic insects, and their larvae.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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These prey items make up the bulk of its diet, though it may also capture other small aquatic creatures.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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To hunt, it moves slowly through shallow water, sometimes remaining motionless for several seconds. Then, with a swift movement, it seizes its prey with a beak as precise as a pair of pliers.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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Although fairly quiet, it makes itself heard in the evening or when startled, letting out a sharp cry.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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Reproduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n
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The breeding season begins in May. The squacco heron builds a nest of twigs in trees or reeds, often surrounded by other species of herons.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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The female lays 4 to 6 blue-green eggs, which are incubated for about 22 to 24 days. The young, still clumsy, remain in the nest for up to 45 days, sometimes venturing onto nearby branches before they learn to fly.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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Juveniles can be recognized by their duller, streaked plumage, which is less uniform than that of adults.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/section>","protected":false},"featured_media":40292,"template":"","animal_family":[327],"animal_univers":[328],"animal_others":[],"class_list":["post-42253","animal","type-animal","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHairy heron | Parc Animalier Sainte-Croix<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Meet the squacco heron, a small wetland heron recognizable by its breeding crest and white wings in flight.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/parcsaintecroix.com\/en\/animals\/hairy-heron\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hairy heron | Parc Animalier Sainte-Croix\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Meet the squacco heron, a small wetland heron 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