The Striated Heron (Butorides striata) also known as the Green-Backed Heron, is a small hunched wetlands bird from the tropical regions of the world, mainly in the southern hemisphere, including west Africa, Japan, Australia, and South America.

The Striated Heron is greenish grey, with a white underbelly, a black cap, and short yellow legs. Its neck is short which makes it looked hunched over. It has a long beak, that has a black upper mandible and a yellow lower mandible.

It can grow to 40-48 centimetres (16-19 inches) tall.

Striated Heron

They live near fresh and salt water, such as mangroves, rivers, and ponds. They mainly eat small fish, frogs and aquatic insects. They use twigs and insects to attract fish, like fishing bait. For example, they catch an insect and drop it into the water to lure fish. Then they strike the fish with their long strong beak. They are mainly nocturnal, eating at night.

They are monogamous, choosing one mate. Both male and female Striated Herons make a nest of sticks built slightly off the ground in shrubs or trees. Females lay 2-5 pale blue eggs, which hatch after 20-25 days. Both parents raise their chicks.

They are related to pelicans.

Striated Heron

Striated Heron

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM