ArdeidaeArdeidaeBitterns, Herons and EgretsBitterns, Herons and Egrets

Extant PterodactylsExtant Pterodactyls What Order? What Order?

CiconiiformesCiconiiformes

CiconiiformesCiconiiformes

FamiliesFamilies ArdeidaeArdeidae BalaenicipitidaeBalaenicipitidae ScopidaeScopidae Ciconiidae Ciconiidae ThreskiornithidaeThreskiornithidae Phoenicopteridae (?)Phoenicopteridae (?)

Number of SpeciesNumber of Species 59 59 Herons, bitterns, egretsHerons, bitterns, egrets 1 1 ShoebillShoebill 1 1 HammerkopHammerkop 19 19 Storks Storks 29 29 Ibises and SpoonbillsIbises and Spoonbills 4 4 FlamingosFlamingos

Neat idea!Neat idea!

Carthartidae – New World Vultures Carthartidae – New World Vultures may be possible Ciconiiformsmay be possible Ciconiiforms

Relatives?Relatives?

Balaenicipitidae- PelicaniformBalaenicipitidae- Pelicaniform Eurypygidae - GruiformEurypygidae - Gruiform

(Mayr and Clarke, 2003) Cladistics(Mayr and Clarke, 2003) Cladistics

Those “other” relatives we no longer speak Those “other” relatives we no longer speak to:to:

Systematically, Ardeids are more closely Systematically, Ardeids are more closely related to Sunbitterns than Sunbitterns are related to Sunbitterns than Sunbitterns are

related to Bustards, yet they are both related to Bustards, yet they are both Gruiforms!Gruiforms!

Otididae – Gruiform Otididae – Gruiform Threskiornithidae - Threskiornithidae - CiconiiformsCiconiiforms

DistributionsDistributions

Actually entire US and parts of Actually entire US and parts of Mexico (although not all Ardeids Mexico (although not all Ardeids are equally distributed, of course)are equally distributed, of course)

Black Heron, Black-Headed Heron, African Black Heron, Black-Headed Heron, African Green-Backed Heron and many othersGreen-Backed Heron and many others

Chinese Pond Heron and Grey Heron (also Chinese Pond Heron and Grey Heron (also found in parts of Africa)found in parts of Africa)

ForeignersForeigners

Black-headed HeronBlack-headed Heron

Chinese Pond HeronChinese Pond Heron

Black Heron

African Green-Backed Heron

Goliath Heron

White-Crested (fasciated) Tiger Heron

Madagascar Heron

Squacco Heron

PatriotsPatriots

Least Bittern

American Bittern

Great Blue Heron

Little Egret = rare to US, but seen

Snowy Egret

Great EgretReddish Egret

Tricolored Heron

Little Blue Heron

Cattle Egret Green HeronYellow-crowned Night Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

= AZ= uncommon,But seen in AZ

Confusing PlumageConfusing Plumage

Little Egret

Reddish Egret Snowy Egret

Great Egret Cattle Egret

Great Blue Heron (White Morph)

Little Blue Heron (Juvenile)

Which Ardeid is this?Which Ardeid is this?

Grey Heron - Eurasia Great-Blue Heron – Nearctic

Broad Ardeid FactsBroad Ardeid Facts

Solitary or Colonial Nesters (in trees, Solitary or Colonial Nesters (in trees, near waternear water)) Many monogamous – biparental careMany monogamous – biparental care Elegant courtship displays (flying around, dancing, etc)Elegant courtship displays (flying around, dancing, etc) Long necksLong necks and and long, pointed billslong, pointed bills for spearing fish and for spearing fish and

other prey (aquatic inverts, reptiles, amphibians, small other prey (aquatic inverts, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals) – hunt by either standing and creeping slowly in mammals) – hunt by either standing and creeping slowly in water or on vegetation close to or overlapping waterwater or on vegetation close to or overlapping water

Varied size range: (Lengths: 60’’ (5 ft!) [Goliath Heron] – Varied size range: (Lengths: 60’’ (5 ft!) [Goliath Heron] – 13’’ [Least Bittern]; Wingspans: 72’’ [Great Blue] – 17’’ 13’’ [Least Bittern]; Wingspans: 72’’ [Great Blue] – 17’’ [Least Bittern]; weights: 5.3 lbs [Great Blue] – 0.17 lbs [Least Bittern]; weights: 5.3 lbs [Great Blue] – 0.17 lbs [Least Bittern])[Least Bittern])

FeedingFeeding

Green Heron: foraging walk in waterGreen Heron: foraging walk in water

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z3zDMekjJkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z3zDMekjJk

Black Heron: “canopy” huntersBlack Heron: “canopy” hunters http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v==REiynfAdFSAREiynfAdFSA

Arizona ArdeidsArizona Ardeids (Bitterns)(Bitterns)

Least Bittern

-Smallest Heron

-Usually crouched in weeds

-Black back (mantle, scapulars, rump) with white lines, black crown

-Uncommon, seen in Southern AZ

American Bittern

-Large and heavy bodied

-clearly stripped breast and belly

-More common, Southern AZ, winter range – migrates through Northern parts of AZ

-“Agonizingly slow gait” (Sibley, 2006)

Cryptic Marsh Birds, easier to hear than see

Arizona ArdeidsArizona ArdeidsWidespread in AZ, often gathered in flocks (especially Snowy)

Great Egret

-No plumes

-Thin, yellow bill, slightly downcurved

-Black feet

-Larger than Snowy (L. 39’’, WS. 51’’)

Snowy Egret

-Yellow lores

-Yellow feet

-Lacy plumes

-Smaller than Greater (L. 24’’, WS. 41’’

Arizona ArdeidsArizona Ardeids Migrate through AZ, small flocks in upland habitat, often near livestock

Cattle Egret

-Primarily eats insects

- Stocky necks

- short, dark legs (orange in breeding season)

-Unlike many Herons, forage on land, never in water (Sibley, 2006)

-Self-introduced to New Zealand (first seen in 1963) – considered native

BreedingNonbreeding

Arizona ArdeidsArizona Ardeids(“mini-” Herons)(“mini-” Herons)

Green Heron

-Rufous-colored neck

- yellow eye

- Dark crown extending to bill

-Green, irridescent remiges and back

-Long, straight bill

Black-crowned Night Heron

- Nocturnal foragers

- red eye

- dark crown stops before bill, white nasal patch

- Dark, black back

- stocky, shorter bill

Both primarily eat Fish

Arizona ArdeidsArizona ArdeidsTheThe modern pterodactyl modern pterodactyl

Great Blue Heron

-Very common

- Largest Heron in US (can kill a man!)

- stand stall and frequently stationary in water when feeding

- Plumes on head (males) and puffy breast plumage

Avian Research Approachability Index (ARAI) For Great Blue Herons: ~ 8 ft.

ARAI = (B + D)/(S x E x H)B = boldness of researcher (testosterone + caffeine + idiocy2)D = Time of Day S = size of birdE = habitatH = satiation (hunger needs met) (Publication in press)

Done!Done!

Lava Heron of the Galápagos

TYLER WEISSTYLER WEISS

CiconiidaeCiconiidae

CiconiidaeCiconiidae In the order Ciconiiformes, family are In the order Ciconiiformes, family are

identified by bill shapeidentified by bill shape Ciconiidae- have large, straight bill, Ciconiidae- have large, straight bill,

sometimes curvedsometimes curved Large wading birds, often in or around waterLarge wading birds, often in or around water Long legsLong legs Diet consists of fish, amphibians, Diet consists of fish, amphibians,

invertebrates, reptiles, and small mammalsinvertebrates, reptiles, and small mammals

Order CiconiiformesOrder Ciconiiformes

CiconiidaeCiconiidae StorksStorks 6 genera and 19 different species6 genera and 19 different species Genera includes Anastomus, Ciconia, Genera includes Anastomus, Ciconia,

Ephippiorhynchus, Jabiru, Leptoptilos, MycteriaEphippiorhynchus, Jabiru, Leptoptilos, Mycteria No syrinx, they are mute, communicate by bill No syrinx, they are mute, communicate by bill

clattering clattering Monogamous by nest, sometimes change Monogamous by nest, sometimes change

mates yearlymates yearly Can live up to 30-40 yearsCan live up to 30-40 years

Pictures of CiconiidaePictures of Ciconiidae

Ciconiidae of North AmericaCiconiidae of North America Only 2 storks in N. AmericaOnly 2 storks in N. America Wood Stork- Lives in Georgia Wood Stork- Lives in Georgia

and Floridaand Florida

Jabiru Stork- Lives in S. America, Jabiru Stork- Lives in S. America, breeds in Texas and Oklahomabreeds in Texas and Oklahoma

occasionallyoccasionally

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts Pictures of storks carrying babies because of their Pictures of storks carrying babies because of their

great parental caregreat parental care Marabou stork has largest wingspan of land birds at Marabou stork has largest wingspan of land birds at

10.5ft wide10.5ft wide Marabou Stork of Africa can Marabou Stork of Africa can

reach 5 ft tallreach 5 ft tall

-Nests can be 10ft deep and 6ft -Nests can be 10ft deep and 6ft

widewide

- Colony nesters- Colony nesters

Any Questions Folks?Any Questions Folks?