Rufous bellied heron

Introduction: Rufous-bellied heron (Ardeola rufiventris) favour flooded grasslands and dense fringing vegetation and reedbeds. Observed mainly singly or in small groups, they roost communally and will head for cover in dense vegetation when disturbed.

Distribution: Caprivi wetlands, Chobe/Zambezi Rivers, Okavango Delta, Kaudom Game Park, Etosha National Park, Hardap Dam.

Diet: Either stands still and waits or walks slowly in search of insects and worms, fish and amphibians.

Description: Rufiventris is Latin for 'red-bellied'. Head, neck and back dark slate grey. The back has long, slate-grey plumes. Flight feathers dark grey below, underwing coverts rufous-brown. Often confused with slaty egret and black heron, both have dark, slender bills and blackish-grey wings and belly.

Breeding: Females lay 1 to 4 eggs in April or September on a shallow platform of short twigs and reed stems, incubated for around 20 days.

Size: 39cm.

Weight: 300g.