Lava Heron and Striated Lava Heron - Galapagos (1 Viewer)

[bionicsherpa]

The galapagos guide that I was with identified these two birds as lava heron and striated lava heron respectively however this does not seem to fit with OPUS. Lava heron redirects me to Galapagos Heron (butorides sundevalli) and mentions that some people lump it in with the Striated heron. Checking out striated heron, it does not mention Galapagos at all and the appearance is somewhat different to my picture. Before I put these two pictures in my gallery could someone set me straight on the correct identifications please?

Many thanks.

 

[Hotspur]

A quick look on Wikipedia looks like your guide is right except its just plain ol Striated Heron with Lava Heron in the first pic. AOU and Birdlife consider lava heron a ssp or morph of striated which seems likely if they occur sympatrically

 

[bionicsherpa]

Many thanks

 

[njlarsen]

you don't mention where in the Galapagos these two birds were seen? I am wondering if your second image shows regional variation within the galapagos, or if it shows an immature bird.

the opus entry for Galapagos heron tells you: "Alternative name: Lava Heron" so those are just two names for the same thing.

As Opus currently recognize GH/LH as a full species, there should not be a mention of Galapagos under Striated Heron, unless the version from South America should show up as a vagrant on Galapagos (I don't know if that has happened).

The name "Striated Lava Heron" is not one used very much on the web, a google search found a few hits, mostly to this thread! So I cannot say what your guide meant, but I guess a variant of the regular Lava Heron. You can upload under that name to the gallery or use Galapagos Heron, but please include Butorides sundevalli under scientific name.

Niels

 

[bionicsherpa]

you don't mention where in the Galapagos these two birds were seen? I am wondering if your second image shows regional variation within the galapagos, or if it shows an immature bird.

the opus entry for Galapagos heron tells you: "Alternative name: Lava Heron" so those are just two names for the same thing.

As Opus currently recognize GH/LH as a full species, there should not be a mention of Galapagos under Striated Heron, unless the version from South America should show up as a vagrant on Galapagos (I don't know if that has happened).

The name "Striated Lava Heron" is not one used very much on the web, a google search found a few hits, mostly to this thread! So I cannot say what your guide meant, but I guess a variant of the regular Lava Heron. You can upload under that name to the gallery or use Galapagos Heron, but please include Butorides sundevalli under scientific name.

Niels

Thanks Niels. I have entered both as butorides sundevalli as you request. The first picture was taken on James Island and the second on Fernandina