Ardeola ralloides

Ardeola ralloides, Photo: Michael Lahanas

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Euavialae
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Aequornithes
Ordo: Pelecaniformes

Familia: Ardeidae
Subfamilia: Ardeinae
Genus: Ardeola
Species Ardeola ralloides
Name

Ardeola ralloides (Scopoli, 1769)
Synonymy

Ardea ralloides (protonym)

References

Annus I-(V) Historico-Naturalis: 88.

Vernacular names
Afrikaans: Ralreier
العربية: البلشون الذهبي
asturianu: Garcina de Cámbaros
azərbaycanca: Sarı pırtlaşıqlələk
беларуская: Жоўтая чапля
български: Гривеста чапла
brezhoneg: Kerc'heiz-kranked
català: Martinet ros comú
čeština: Volavka vlasatá
Cymraeg: Crëyr melyn
dansk: Tophejre
Deutsch: Rallenreiher
Ελληνικά: Κρυπτοτσικνιάς
English: Squacco Heron
Esperanto: Ralardeo
español: Garcilla cangrejera
eesti: Koldhaigur
euskara: Lertxuntxo karramarrozalea
فارسی: حواصیل اسکوآکو
suomi: Rääkkähaikara
føroyskt: Topphegri
français: Crabier chevelu
Frysk: Sompereager
Gaeilge: Corr Scréachach
galego: Garza amarela
Hausa: Makwabo
עברית: אנפית סוף
hrvatski: Žuta Čaplja
magyar: Üstökösgém
հայերեն: Դեղին տառեղ
íslenska: Relluhegri
italiano: Sgarza ciuffetto
日本語: カンムリサギ
ქართული: ყვითელი ყანჩა
қазақша: Сары құтан
lietuvių: Geltonasis garnys
Malagasy: Andevondangoro
македонски: Жолта чапја
Malti: Agrett Isfar
Nederlands: Ralreiger
norsk: Topphegre
polski: Czapla modronosa
پنجابی: سکواکو بگلا
português do Brasil: Garça-caranguejeira
português: Papa-ratos
rumantsch: Irun brin
русский: Жёлтая цапля
slovenčina: Čaplička vlasatá
slovenščina: Čopasta čaplja
shqip: Çapka e verdhë
српски / srpski: Жута чапља
Sesotho: Kokolofitoe
svenska: Rallhäger
Kiswahili: Kingoyo Njano
Türkçe: Alaca balıkçıl
українська: Чапля жовта
中文: 白翅黄池鹭

The squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides) is a small heron, 44–47 cm (17+1⁄2–18+1⁄2 in) long, of which the body is 20–23 cm (8–9 in), with 80–92 cm (31+1⁄2–36 in) wingspan.[2] It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Europe and the Greater Middle East.

Behaviour

The squacco heron is a migrant, wintering in Africa. It is rare north of its breeding range. The species has been recorded in Fernando de Noronha islands, and more rarely in mainland South America, as a vagrant. This is a stocky species with a short neck, short thick bill and buff-brown back. In summer, adults have long neck feathers. Its appearance is transformed in flight, when it looks very white due to the colour of the wings.

The squacco heron's breeding habitat is marshy wetlands in warm countries. The birds nest in small colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. Three to four eggs are laid. They feed on fish, frogs and insects.

Etymology

The English common name squacco comes via Francis Willughby (c. 1672) quoting a local Italian name sguacco. The current spelling comes from John Hill in 1752.[3]

The scientific name comes from Latin ardeola, a small heron (ardea), and ralloides, Latin rallus, a rail and Greek -oides, "resembling".[4]
Breeding

The Squacco Heron uses freshwater localities throughout Europe and the Middle East as breeding grounds to later migrate south to the Sub-Saharan African region. Non-breeding Squacco Herons share similar traits with other heron species like the Indian Pond Heron and Malagasy Pond Heron which show tawny color plumage, lighter streaking, smaller bill, and narrower wing tips.[5]
Ardeola ralloides eggs
References

BirdLife International (2018). "Ardeola ralloides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22697123A131940696. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22697123A131940696.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
Snow, David William; Perrins, Christopher, eds. (1997). The Birds of the Western Palearctic [Abridged]. OUP. ISBN 0-19-854099-X.
Lockwood, W.B. (1993). The Oxford Dictionary of British Bird Names. OUP. ISBN 978-0-19-866196-2.
Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 54, 330. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
"HeronConservation » Squacco Heron". Retrieved 2022-03-19.