Justification This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Family/Sub-family Ardeidae

Species name author Vigors & Children, 1826

Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC (2003), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

100,000 - 500,000

unset

19,100,000 km²

No

Ecology: Behaviour Although populations of this species breeding in the equatorial zone of Africa are largely sedentary other populations are partially migratory and move in relation to the timing of the dry seasons¹. The species nests in small mixed-species colonies of up to 200 pairs with breeding activities peaking during the rains¹. The species is usually a solitary forager, but may occasionally congregate into loose feeding flocks^{1, 2} and commonly roosts in groups of tens to hundreds of individuals². Individuals may travel over 30 km daily between preferred feeding grounds and roosting sites¹. Habitat The species inhabits marshes^{1, 3} with reed and papyrus beds^{1, 4}, the margins of rivers and lakes, estuaries¹, coastal creeks³ and flats², temporary pools³ and natural savannas or artificial grasslands² including damp open pastures, moist grassland and cultivated land¹. Diet Its diet consists of terrestrial and aquatic insects¹ (especially Orthoptera), earthworms², crabs¹, Arachnids (e.g. scorpions and spiders)², small mammals (e.g. rats, water voles, musk-shrews² and mice³), lizards, snakes, frogs, birds and fish^{1, 2, 3}. Insects are the most important prey item for the species during the rains, although these become less important as grasslands dry out². Breeding site The nest is a platform of sticks usually positioned high in trees¹ (e.g. eucalyptus, baobab, acacia, fig or palm)⁴ or in reedbeds^{1, 4}, papyrus beds, floating islands of papyrus or on sandstone ledges⁴. The species nests in colonies with up to 35 pairs nesting in one tree⁴. Management information In Cameroon the re-flooding of a desiccated flood-plain twinned with an increase in rainfall and colony protection resulted in a increase in the number of breeding pairs of this species⁶.

Threats Utilisation The species is hunted and traded at traditional medicine markets in Nigeria⁵.

References 1. del Hoyo et al. (1992). 2. Kushlan and Hancock (2005). 3. Hancock and Kushlan (1984). 4. Brown et al. (1982). 5. Nikolaus (2001). 6. Scholte (2006).

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Lucy Malpas (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Ardea melanocephala. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 30/7/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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