From Opus

Photo by nkgray
Photographed: Ras Nungwi, Zanzibar.

Egretta dimorpha

[edit] Identification

The bird pictured is a dark morph. It is distinguished from the Western Reef Heron (Egretta gularis) due to black beak and black legs with yellow feet.

55-65cm.

• Occurs in dark, intermediate and white phases
• Long thin neck
• White throat and carpal patches
• Long thin bill
• Dark legs

[edit] Distribution

Eastern Africa and Madagascar.

[edit] Taxonomy

A monotypic species.

[edit] E. (garzetta?) dimorpha

Some authorities (Clements, 2007) lump dimorpha within Little Egret (E. garzetta). However, Howard & Moore (2003) and Sibley & Monroe (1996) treat it as a full species and the Opus awaits further clarification.

[edit] Habitat

Coastal; breeds on coral islets and feeds in pools in exposed coral.

Freshwater wetlands, estuaries and coastal lagoons.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Vocalisation

Mainly silent.

Alarm call: quaark

[edit] References

Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands By Ian Sinclair, Olivier Langrand

[edit] External Links