Conservation status:
Not Threatened.
Diagnostic description:
The smallest specimens are perhaps the smallest herons on earth. It has a short neck, longish bill and buff underparts. The male's back and crown are black, and the wings are black with a large white patch on each wing. The female has a browner back and a buff-brown wing patch.
Behaviour:
Size:
27–36 cm length, 40–58 cm wingspan, 60-150 g weight
Phylogeny:
Taxonomy:
- Ardea minuta Linnaeus, 1766, Switzerland. Forms superspecies with I. exilis and I. sinensis. Race novaezelandiae often considered separate species, but very little known and now probably extinct (cause unknown); payesii and podiceps have been treated as two further species. Five subspecies normally recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Distribution:
Subspecies and Distribution:
- *minutus (Linnaeus, 1766) - C & S Europe and N Africa E to W Siberia and through Iran to NE India; winters Africa to India. *payesii (Hartlaub, 1858) - Africa S of Sahara.*podiceps (Bonaparte, 1855) - Madagascar. *novaezelandiae (Potts, 1871) - South I, New Zealand (probably extinct). *dubius Mathews, 1912 - SW & E Australia; S New Guinea.
Habitat:
Breeds in reedbeds around lakes, dykes and fishponds. From lowland up to 1500 m. During winter and migration occurs in more open waters.
Trophic strategy:
Varies with season and region. unting small fish, frogs and invertebrates (mainly).
Taxonomic name: