- Egretta dimorpha
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
Distribution
Eastern Africa and Madagascar.
Taxonomy
A monotypic species.
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.
Habitat
Coastal; breeds on coral islets and feeds in pools in exposed coral.
Freshwater wetlands, estuaries and coastal lagoons.
Behaviour
Vocalisation
Mainly silent.
Alarm call: quaark
References
Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands By Ian Sinclair, Olivier Langrand
