Herons and Ibises
River edges and marshes support a diversity of wading birds of the families Ardeidae (herons and egrets) and
Threskiornithidae (ibises). Plates 12- 45– 51 represent a few, but by no means all. Two other, more unusual herons are
discussed in the sections that follow.
Plate 12- 45. The Cocoi Heron (Ardea
cocoi), seen here flying over a lake, is
a large wader common throughout
the Neotropics. It is similar to the
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias),
which is widespread in North
America but also a resident of the
Neotropics. Photo by John Kricher.Plate 12- 46. The elegant Whistling
Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix) has
a disjunct range, occurring in
northeastern South America and
more extensively in central and
southeastern South America. Photo
by John Kricher.Plate 12- 47. The Capped Heron
(Pilherodius pileatus) is partial to
quiet pools. It is widespread from
Panama through Amazonia. Photo
by Andrew Whittaker.Plate 12- 48. Once thought to be
extremely rare, the small Zigzag
Heron (Zebrilus undulatus) is a skulker
and rarely observed. But it is not
nearly as rare as it was once thought
to be. Photo by Edison Buenaño.Plate 12- 49. Three species of tiger-
herons occur in the Neotropics, and
each is found in marshes and along
shaded riverine areas. This is the
Rufescent Tiger- Heron (Tigrisoma
lineatum). Photo by John Kricher.Plate 12- 50. The Green Ibis
(Mesembrinibis cayennensis), unlike
many ibis species, is solitary, not
found in flocks. It probes for food
along riverbanks and swamps.
Photo by John Kricher.Plate 12- 51. The handsome Buff-
necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus),
though it is certainly common
around lakes, ponds, and rivers,
is often found away from rivers in
open fields. Photo by John Kricher.Plate 12- 45. Plate 12- 46.Plate 12- 49.Plate 12- 48.Plate 12- 50.Plate 12- 51.Plate 12-47.chapter 12 cruising the rivers to the sea 223