Photo: Félix Uribe from Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Striated Heron
Butorides striata
Striated Heron (Butorides striata) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Striated Heron (Butorides striata) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 202 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
- Genus Butorides
- Species striata
Where it lives
Eastern Panama to northern Argentina, Bolivia and Chile
Quick facts
- Weight
- 202 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Striated Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Striated Heron is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Striated Heron (Butorides striata) belongs to the Ardeidae family of the order Pelecaniformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA e Panama to n Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 202 g, with a wing length of about 17.4 cm and a tail of around 6.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 53.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Striated Heron?
The Striated Heron is a large bird that weighs around 202 g.
Where does the Striated Heron live?
The Striated Heron is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA e Panama to n Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Striated Heron belong to?
The Striated Heron (Butorides striata) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Striated Heron eat?
The Striated Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Striated Heron migrate?
The Striated Heron is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Striated Heron endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Striated Heron make?
1 real field recording of the Striated Heron — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Striated Heron's range?
The Striated Heron has a mapped global range of about 53.6 million 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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