Pacific reef heron images

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The Pacific reef heron (Egretta sacra) belongs to the family of egrets and herons, the Ardeidae under the order Pelecaniformes.

Pacific reef heron taxonomy

The Ardeidae is the family of herons. The family Ardeidae was first described by William Elford Leach, MD, FRS (2 February 1791 – 25 August 1836), an English zoologist and marine biologist, in the year 1820.

The family Ardeidae comprises three subfamilies, viz., Tigriornithinae, Botaurinae and Ardeinae. The subfamily Ardeinae contains eleven extant genera, including Egretta.

The genus Egretta (egrets and herons) was first introduced by Thomas Ignatius Maria Forster (9 November 1789 – 2 February 1860), an English astronomer and naturalist, in the year 1817.

The genus Egretta comprises twelve extant species, including Egretta sacra. This Egretta sacra heron species is polytypic.

This heron species was first described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin (8 August 1748 – 1 November 1804), a German naturalist, botanist, entomologist and herpetologist, in the year 1789.

Taxonomic classification
Binomial name:	Egretta sacra
Species:	E. sacra
Genus:	Egretta
Subfamily:	-
Family:	Ardeidae
Order:	Pelecaniformes
Class:	Aves
Phylum:	Chordata
Kingdom:	Animalia

1.Pacific reef heron - Egretta sacra
Image by Ron Knight

2.Pacific reef heron - Egretta sacra
Image by Ron Knight

3.Pacific reef heron - Egretta sacra
Image by Ron Knight

4.Pacific reef heron white morph - Egretta sacra
Image by Glen Fergus

5.Pacific reef heron - Egretta sacra
Image by Donald Hobern

6.Pacific reef heron - Egretta sacra
Image by Glen Fergus

7.Pacific reef heron - Egretta sacra
Image by 孫鋒 林

8.Pacific reef heron - Egretta sacra
Image by 孫鋒 林

9.Pacific reef heron juvenile - Egretta sacra
Image by Mehmet Karatay

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1.Pacific reef heron image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sussexbirder/8080205381/ (cropped)
Author: Ron Knight | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 8/18/18
2.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sussexbirder/8080199216/ (cropped)
Author: Ron Knight | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 8/18/18
3.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sussexbirder/8080205843/ (cropped)
Author: Ron Knight | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 8/18/18
4.Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eastern_Reef_Egret.jpg (cropped)
Author: Glen Fergus | License: CC BY-SA 2.5 as on 8/18/18
5.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dhobern/24305270139/ (cropped)
Author: Donald Hobern | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 8/18/18
6.Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eastern_Reef_Egret_-_dark_morph.jpg (cropped)
Author: Glen Fergus | License: CC BY-SA 2.5 as on 8/18/18
7.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/outdoor_birding/16896194398/ (cropped)
Author: 孫鋒 林 | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 8/18/18
8.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/outdoor_birding/16876565987 (cropped)
Author: 孫鋒 林 | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 8/18/18
9.Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Juvenile_Reef_Egret.jpg (cropped)
Author: Mehmet Karatay | License: CC BY-SA 2.5 as on 8/18/18
Current topic in Bird World: Pacific reef heron - Egretta sacra images.

Pacific reef heron

Home   ›   Baikal teal   ›   Pacific reef heron - Egretta sacra.

The Pacific reef heron (Egretta sacra) belongs to the family Ardeidae.

The Pacific reef heron is distributed in oceanic region of India, Southeast Asia, Japan, Malay Peninsula, Polynesia, Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand.

Taxonomy

• Scientific Name: Egretta sacra
• Common Name: Pacific reef heron
• French: Aigrette sacrée; German: Riffreiher; Spanish: Garceta de arrecife;
• Other names: eastern reef heron, Pacific Reef-egret or eastern reef egret;
• Family: Ardeidae › Pelecaniformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
• Species author: Gmelin, 1789

There are two recognized subspecies. The subspecies, E. s. sacra (J. F. Gmelin, 1789) occurs in Pacific and oceanic regions of Asia, Philippines, New Guinea, Polynesia, Australia and New Zealand.

The subspecies, E. s. albolineata (G. R. Gray, 1859) occurs in Pacific islands, New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands.

Indian birds - Pacific reef heron - Egretta sacra

Description

The Pacific reef heron species are medium sized birds, measuring 55 to 66 cm in length and weighing 330 to 700 grams. The wingspan is 90 to 100 cm.

These heron species show an unusual, non-sexual dimorphism. Some birds have entirely white plumage whereas some birds have entirely dark grey plumage. A large number of birds have dark grey plumage.

They have short, stout, yellow-green or brown legs. The beak is thick and colored yellowish to brown. The eyes are bright golden yellow. In breeding season these birds develop lance-shaped plumes on their neck and back.

Habitat

The Pacific reef heron inhabit coastal regions like rocky shores and offshore islands. They are also observed on mangrove margins, tidal flats, beaches, tidal creeks. They are occasionally seen in inland marshes.

Feeding habits

The Pacific reef heron feed both by day and by night and the feeding time depending on the tides.

They creep along slowly with hunched back to catch the prey. Sometimes they are seen stirring the water to expose potential prey. These birds feed mainly on ocean based fish, shrimp and molluscs.

Breeding

These heron species lay eggs year round in colonies in woodlands. They nest on ground, palms or other trees and lay two or six pale greenish-blue eggs. Males and females incubate the eggs and also feed the chicks.

Distribution

The Pacific reef heron is distributed in oceanic region of India, Southeast Asia, Pacific Asia, Japan, Malay Peninsula, Polynesia, Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand.

Movement Patterns

These heron species are mostly sedentary. Post breeding dispersal is observed in some areas.

Status and conservation

The Pacific reef heron population is presently widespread and large. There is no immediate threat to these heron species. The effects of human activity, climate change, habitat degradation are the possible conservation threats in the near future.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these heron species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".

Biological classification of Egretta sacra
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Pelecaniformes
Family:	Ardeidae
Subfamily:	-
Genus:	Egretta
Species:	E. sacra
Binomial name:	Egretta sacra
Distribution:	oceanic region of India, Southeast Asia, Japan, Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand;
Feeding habits:	fish, crustaceans and molluscs;
IUCN status listing:	Least Concern

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Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eastern_Reef_Egret_-_dark_and_light_morphs-trim.jpg
Author: Glen Fergus | License: CC BY-SA 2.5
Current topic in Birds of India: Pacific reef heron - Egretta sacra.