The great-billed heron (Ardea sumatrana) belongs to the family Ardeidae.
The great-billed heron is a wading bird and is distributed in Australia and Southeast Asia. There are two recognized subspecies of these heron.
The subspecies A. s. sumatrana occurs in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Papuan Islands, New Guinea and Nicobar Islands of India. The subspecies A. s. mathewsae occurs in coastal Australia.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these heron species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".
These heron species are large birds, measuring 100 to 115 cm in length and weighing 1,300 to 2,600 grams. They have a wingspan of 190 cm.
The plumage is largely dark grey. The heron bill is large, long, sharp and dark. They feed on fish and crustaceans.
The great-billed heron inhabit tidal mud flats, coral reefs, mangroves, shallow ponds and banks of large rivers. The breeding season coincides the monsoons.
 |
| Indian birds - Great-billed heron - Ardea sumatrana |
| Biological classification of Ardea sumatrana | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Pelecaniformes |
| Family: | Ardeidae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Ardea |
| Species: | A. sumatrana |
| Binomial name: | Ardea sumatrana |
| Distribution: | Australia, Southeast Asia, western Indian Islands |
| Feeding habits: | fish, crabs and other crustaceans |
| IUCN status listing: |  Least Concern |
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ardea_sumatrana_-Palawan,_Philippines-8.jpg
Author: jacobusmulder | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Current topic in Birds of India: Great-billed heron - Ardea sumatrana.