Photo: Daniel Vaulot / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Humblot’s Heron
Ardea humbloti
Humblot's Heron (Ardea humbloti) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Humblot’s Heron (Ardea humbloti) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
- Genus Ardea
- Species humbloti
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.1 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Humblot’s Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Humblot’s Heron is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Humblot’s Heron (Ardea humbloti) belongs to the Ardeidae family of the order Pelecaniformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c Madagascar.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 44.9 cm and a tail of around 17 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 61,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Humblot’s Heron?
The Humblot’s Heron is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the Humblot’s Heron live?
The Humblot’s Heron is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c Madagascar, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Humblot’s Heron belong to?
The Humblot’s Heron (Ardea humbloti) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Humblot’s Heron eat?
The Humblot’s Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Humblot’s Heron migrate?
The Humblot’s Heron is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Humblot’s Heron endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
How large is the Humblot’s Heron's range?
The Humblot’s Heron has a mapped global range of about 61,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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