Squacco Heron

Ardeola ralloides

Introduction

British records of this small and skulking heron, which is widely distributed throughout Europe, are increasing markedly. Although it can be recorded in any month, most records come from the spring. It remains a very rare bird in Ireland.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

300g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1.4k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

% expansion

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Wiltshire, 1775

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This scarce visitor is too rarely reported to map distribution.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.1%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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This scarce visitor is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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Squacco Heron is a rare summer overshoot and occasional vagrant in autumn.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Squacco Heron movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Squacco Heron, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Squacco Heron

Classification and Codes

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Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Scientific name: Ardeola ralloides
Authority: Scopoli, 1769

BTO 2-letter code: QH
BTO 5-letter code: SQUHE
Euring code number: 1080

Alternate species names

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Catalan: martinet ros comú
Czech: volavka vlasatá
Danish: Tophejre
Dutch: Ralreiger
Estonian: koldhaigur e. tiigihaigur
Finnish: rääkkähaikara
French: Crabier chevelu

German: Rallenreiher
Hungarian: üstökösgém
Icelandic: Relluhegri
Irish: Corr Scréachach
Italian: Sgarza ciuffetto
Latvian: dzeltenais garnis
Lithuanian: geltonasis kudrinis garnys
Norwegian: Topphegre

Polish: czapla modronosa
Portuguese: garça-caranguejeira / papa-ratos
Slovak: caplicka vlasatá
Slovenian: copasta caplja
Spanish: Garcilla cangrejera
Swedish: rallhäger
Welsh: Crëyr Melyn

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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