White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis)

Other Scientific Names
Ardea imperialis [Collar and Andrew (1988)]

Other Names (World)
White-bellied Heron, Imperial Heron

Family
Ardeidae (Herons)

Size
127 cm

First Described (Guide)
Hume, 1878

Habitat
Small and large rivers, usually with sand or gravel bars, often within or adjacent to subtropical broadleaved forest. From sea-level - 1,500 m.

Range (Guide)

Bangladesh (B) (NB), Bhutan (B), India (B), Myanmar (B), Nepal (E) (B).

Southern foothills of eastern Himalayas, from Nepal to north-eastern India and Burma.

Population
Estimated population is 50 - 249 (2010) and decreasing.

Status CR
Loss, degradation and disturbance of forest and wetlands through pollution, rapid grouth in aquatic vegetation, over-exploitation of resources, conversion to agriculture, humand disturbance, are the main threats.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Usually solitary but may form small flocks and family groups during winter.

Voice
A loud, deep croaking 'ock ock ock ock urrrrrr'.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files

White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) [XC416446]
by id from , Bhutan (call, song)

White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) [XC416455]
by Tshering Dema from , Bhutan (call)

Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana).

No subspecies.

Similar Species
Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana) which has a grey belly and when breeding has whitish plumes on nape, scapulars and breast.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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