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). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to 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 (Scopoli, 1769)

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?

370,000 - 780,000

unset

20,400,000 km²

No

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: Behaviour In the Palearctic this species is migratory and dispersive¹, travelling on a broad front between breeding and wintering areas². African breeding populations are nomadic or sedentary however and make local dispersive movements to temporary wetlands following seasonal rains⁵. The species breeds from April to July in Eurasia and North Africa (the populations south of the Sahara breeding mainly during the rainy season)¹ in single- or mixed-species colonies that can be up to 2,000 pairs in size¹. After breeding Palearctic populations migrate south from August to November^{1, 2}, returning to the breeding colonies between February and May². The species feeds solitarily² or in small groups of 2-5 individuals during the breeding season² although in winter and on migration large feeding flocks may form² and in Africa resident populations may feed in parties of up to 20 individuals⁴. The species is mainly crepuscular¹, roosting by day and night in large² often mixed-species⁴ groups in sheltered woods and reedbeds (these roosts may draw in herons feeding up to 80 km away)². Habitat The species inhabits permanent or temporary wetlands⁴ showing a preference for fresh waters with abundant marsh vegetation¹, reedbeds, nearby bushes, trees and scrub². Habitats frequented include swampy plains, river valleys, deltas, lakes, ponds, canals and ditches¹ although rice paddyfields^{1, 2} are now the principle habitat throughout much of its range². On migration² the species may also occur on estuaries, inshore reefs or islets¹. It generally avoids dry habitats and those with very high rainfall², and usually breeds in the lowlands although it has bred on montane lakes up to 2,000 m¹. Diet Its diet consists predominantly of larval insects although fish and amphibians¹ (e.g. frogs and tadpoles)² up to 10 cm long, grasshoppers, beetles, butterflies, spiders, crustaceans, molluscs and exceptionally small birds may also be taken¹. Breeding site The nest is a well-constructed platform¹ usually placed less than 2 m (occasionally up to 20 m) high near or over water in reedbeds¹ or in dense thickets of trees or shrubs² (e.g. of willow Salix spp. or poplar Populus spp.)³, preferring nesting sites within 5 km of feeding areas². The species breeds in single- or mixed-species colonies that can be up to 2,000 pairs in size¹, neighbouring pairs building nests 5-10 m apart (occasionally as close as 0.5 m)².

Threats The greatest threat to this species is the loss and deterioration of natural and man-made freshwater habitats (e.g. through changes to flood regimes in rice paddyfields) and wet woodlands (e.g. through woodcutting and burning)³. Utilisation The species is hunted and traded at traditional medicine markets in Nigeria⁶.

References 1. del Hoyo et al. (1992). 2. Kushlan and Hancock (2005). 3. Hafner and Didner (1997). 4. Brown et al. (1982). 5. Hockey et al. (2005). 6. Nikolaus (2001).

Further web sources of information

Detailed species account from Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status (BirdLife International 2004)

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: Ardeola ralloides. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/9/2010

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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