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PLATE 15: HERONS II
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax PM, WV
L: 60. W: 110. Stocky, about half the size of Grey Heron; most active at dusk. Adult’s grey plumage
with black back and crown is unmistakable. Brownish juvenile is prominently spotted with white
on back and coverts and this feature immediately identifies it from other brown herons. By second
calendar year the spotting is reduced in size and the mantle and scapulars become grey-brown
(mirroring the black of the adult). More likely to be flushed than seen in the open during the day.
Voice Harsh deep kwark, heard in flight, especially at dusk. Habitat Rivers, lakes and marshes with
trees and dense vegetation; nests in reeds or trees. Note Has bred Kuwait, S Oman; passage and
winter hatched, but few winter in the north.Grey Heron Ardea cinerea PM, WV, sv
L: 95. W: 185. Large with long neck and legs and powerful bill. In all plumages has grey upperparts
and white underparts and neck. Adult has black crest and dark markings down front of neck.
Juvenile has darker grey or browner upperparts and crown with rest of plumage white. Bill yellowish
and legs brownish-yellow in adult, but in younger plumages bill browner and legs greyish. Juvenile
can superficially resemble Purple Heron, but is much paler with thicker neck, stouter bill and never
shows buffish-brown on neck and breast. Voice A raucous waak in flight. Habitat Wetlands including
coasts; nests in trees. Note Passage and winter hatched; many oversummer in Oman and UAE.Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala V
L: 85. W: 160. Slightly smaller than Grey Heron with black crown and hindneck contrasting
with white throat and foreneck in adult plumage. Grey upperparts, darker than Grey Heron,
and legs blackish; bill has grey upper mandible (yellowish in Grey Heron). At all ages has white
underwing-coverts contrasting with black flight feathers. In juvenile, crown and hindneck dark
grey, contrasting less with whitish foreneck, which is often tinged rusty. Habitat Inland or coastal
wetlands. Note Regular throughout year in Yemen, where may breed; vagrant Oman.Purple Heron Ardea purpurea PM, WV
L: 80. W: 135. Slimmer and much darker than Grey Heron, with angular, snake-like neck. Adult dark
grey with black belly, chestnut on neck edged by black streak, black crown and line across
cheeks; dull yellow bill. Juvenile has sandy-brown upperparts and hindneck with diffuse dark
streaking on neck and blackish crown. In flight, has more angular neck (bulging downwards
more obviously) than heavier-looking Grey Heron with prominent spread toes and brownish
upperwing-coverts. Mostly seen in or when flushed from vegetation, unlike Grey Heron which
feeds in more open areas. Habitat Marshes, reedbeds, ditches; nests colonially in reeds or trees.
Note Mainly summer visitor; passage hatched.Goliath Heron Ardea goliath V
L: 145. W: 220. Very large; with long legs and heavy bill. Adult has chestnut head and hindneck,
bluish-grey upperparts and rich chestnut underparts and underwing-coverts. Immature birds are
paler rufous-orange on head and have rufous edgings to feathers on upperparts; white underparts
are dark-streaked. Told from Purple Heron by much larger size, stouter head and neck, lack
of black on crown, absence of black line across cheeks, greyish bill (yellowish in Purple), dark
legs (yellowish-green in Purple) and upperwing more uniform grey. In flight, wingbeats slow and
heavy with legs protruding well beyond tail. Habitat Extensive reedbeds; also mudflats and coastal
islands; nests in mangroves and reeds. Note Feral breeding UAE; vagrant Oman.