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Slaty Egret - BirdForum Opus


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Egretta vinaceigula
Photo by nkgray
Chobe River, Kasane, Botswana

Identification

60 cm
Adult

  • Dark, slaty-blue
  • White throat
  • Dark reddish foreneck (only visible at close range)
  • Greenish-yellow legs and toes

Distribution

Africa south of the equator.

The species has a restricted range: It is found in Botswana in the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park, the Caprivi Strip of Namibia, in Zambia north to Bangweulu, and in the Zambezi delta (Mozambique). Has also been recorded in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo and perhaps Angola.

Taxonomy

Photo by GordonH
Okavango Swamps, Botswana, July 2008

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Shallow freshwater in swamps and floodplains.

Behaviour

May make local dispersive movements.

Diet

Its diet includes small fish.

Breeding

The clutch consists of 2-3 eggs.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. BirdLife International

Recommended Citation

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