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Fasciated Tiger Heron - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 19:58, 12 September 2015 by Deliatodd-18346 (talk | contribs) (Flight picture of immature. References updated)
Photo by Steve G
Rio Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, July 2008
Tigrisoma fasciatum

Identification

Length 62-66cm (24-26in.)
Typical body shape of a heron, with long neck, but often not extended. Body appears overall dark at a distance, but it has a fine pattern of stripes and bars. The neck and upper breast shows a single, vertical brown stripe bordered by white or buff plumage. Yellow markings on face. Top of flat head is slaty.

Similar Species

Reini
Sarapiqui River, Costa Rica, February 2005

Similar to the Bare-throated Tiger Heron this bird has slightly shorter legs, is darker with a dark bill & cap and has the white stripe running up the neck continue up to the base of the bill.

Distribution

In Central America occurs in Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama and in South America found from Colombia and Venezuela south to Bolivia and north-west Argentina with a separate area of range in south-eastern Brazil and north-east Argentina.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are 3 subspecies[1]:

  • T. f. salmoni: is smaller and more finely-barred
  • T. f. fasciatum:
  • T. f. pallescens: is paler
  • North-western Argentina
Immature
Photo by firecrest15
Rio Papallacta, Guango Lodge, East Andes, Ecuador, April 2015

Habitat

Fast-flowing streams in humid montane forest.

Behaviour

Often stands on a boulder in mid-stream, catching fish from fast-flowing water. Patient, holds same pose for a considerable period, again typical of the family.

Diet

Their diet is not well recorded but is know to include fish and they have been observed stalking frogs.

Movements

A resident species.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved September 2015)

Recommended Citation

External Links

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