From Opus

Ardea insignis

Photo by Yeshey Dorji
Photo taken: Punaphochu, Western Bhutan.

[edit] Identification

127cm. Grey foreneck and breast, white belly, dark grey upperwing and white underwing-coverts, greyish-white nape, elongated grey breast feathers with white centres. Both male and female have two lace-like white-plumes on nape. Juvenile is browner-tinged with smaller plumes.

Critically endangered from hunting of the bird and its eggs, and habitat destruction.

[edit] Distribution

East Himalayan foothills in India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Wetlands of forests near river with sand or gravel bars, often within or adjacent to subtropical broadleaved forest, from the lowlands up to at least 1,500 m.

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes fish and small insects.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages