Agami heron
| Agami heron | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Adult in Costa Rica | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Pelecaniformes |
| Family: | Ardeidae |
| Genus: | Agamia L. Reichenbach, 1853 |
| Species: | A. agami |
| Binomial name | |
| Agamia agami (Gmelin, 1789) | |
 | |
| Global range Year-Round Range Summer Range Winter Range | |
The agami heron (Agamia agami) is a medium-sized heron. It is a resident breeding bird from Central America south to Peru and Brazil. It is sometimes known as the chestnut-bellied heron, and is the only member of the genus Agamia (Reichenbach, 1853).
The agami heron is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, due to predictions of future habitat destruction within its range.[2]
Description
This uncommon species is 66–76 cm (26–30 in) in length. It is short-legged for a heron, and has a thin bill which is considerably longer than the head. The neck and underparts are chestnut, with a white line down the centre of the foreneck, and the wings are green. There are wispy pale blue feathers decorating the head, sides of the foreneck, and lower back. The legs, bill, and bare facial patch are dull yellow. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are largely brown above with a white foreneck, and streaked brown-and-white underparts.
Distribution and habitat
The agami heron's habitat is forest swamps and similar wooded wetlands. They nest in colonies on platforms of sticks in trees over water, which may gather more than 100 nests.[3] The only known nesting colony of agami herons in Central America is on a tiny island at the centre of a lagoon in the middle of the Pacuare Nature Reserve, Costa Rica. The normal clutch is two blue eggs.
Behavior
Despite its stunning plumage, this reclusive species' preference for shade and overhanging vegetation means that it is rarely seen. This is a quiet bird, but pairs and family groups may make various snoring or rattling sounds.
Agami herons stalk their prey (fish, frogs, small reptiles, and snails) in shallow shaded water, often standing still or moving very slowly. They rarely wade in open water.
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Agamia agami". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ↑ "Agamia agami (Agami Heron)". www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ↑ Fleck, Leonardo Colombo (2003-11-23). "Aspectos reprodutivos e conservação de um ninhal de Agamia agami (AVES: ARDEIDAE) na RDS Amanã – AM" (PDF). In Caio Graco Machado. Resumos do XI Congresso Brasileiro de Ornitologia. XI Congresso Brasileiro de Ornitologia (in Portuguese). Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil: Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana.
- Birds of Venezuela by Hilty, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
External links
Media related to Agami heron (Agamia agami) at Wikimedia Commons
- Agami heron videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Stamps (for Suriname) with RangeMap
- Agami heron photo gallery VIREO
- "The Agami Heron" article & Photo--Medium Res—"Birds-Belize"