Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Scientific name definitions

42–47 cm; 230–370 g; wingspan 80–92 cm. Over most of its range, this species is the only Ardeola. Appears mainly brownish buff at rest, but extensively white wings , rump and tail become strikingly apparent as soon as bird takes flight  . In breeding plumage has yellow-buff or straw-coloured crown, the feathers slightly or very elongated, golden to cinnamon-buff plumes  on lower neck and back , reddish-gold foreneck and breast, pinkish-brown back, with long golden plumes, and rest of plumage white. Bare parts brighter during courtship, when legs can be reddish  (soon fading to pink and back to dull yellow-green), bill bright blue with dark tip (pale greenish yellow with black tip and maxilla in non-breeding season), lores  blue (at other times yellow-green) and eyes rich yellow (paler at other times) (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Sexes alike. Non-breeding adult dull brown with dark and light streaks, as in other members of Ardeola, with real potential for confusion with A. grayii (which is seemingly regular visitor to SE Arabia) and to lesser extent with A. bacchus, which has so far only been recorded in same range as present species as an escape (2 Jiguet, F. (2006). Identification of non-breeding Squacco, Indian and Chinese Pond Herons. Alula. 12(3): 114–119. Close ). On Madagascar, also overlaps with A. idae, from which is easily distinguished in breeding plumage by its predominantly tawny (rather than mainly white) plumage, whereas in non-breeding plumage it is separated by being paler, less heavily streaked, with a smaller bill and narrower wings. Smaller and slighter than Bubulcus ibis, which always looks much whiter than present species, has less pointed bill and an obvious jowl, while all Ardeola have much faster and more fluttering flight than small egrets. Juvenile similar to non-breeding adult, but drabber, with more heavily streaked neck, no plumes on crest or back, dark-tipped bill, grey (rather than white) underparts and brown-tinged flight feathers (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Race paludivaga considered to be darker and more saturated in breeding plumage than nominate, but distinction is reportedly very difficult. Birds on Madagascar average smaller than those in mainland Africa and Eurasia, but variation not recognized subspecifically (3 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

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SW & C Europe (N to France and Germany) eastwards to region of Aral Sea and SE Iran; also Africa N & S of Sahara S to Cape Province, as well as Madagascar.

Wide variety of preferably freshwater wetland habitats, including swampy plains, river valleys, deltas, lakes, ponds, canals, ditches and paddyfields, especially in areas with abundant covering of marsh vegetation and still or slow-flowing waters (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Rare in coastal areas, including estuaries, inshore reefs or islets, but birds on Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, appear to regularly forage on tidal wave platforms. Generally in lowlands, although has bred on montane lakes at altitude of up to 2000 m, with single record at 2300 m in Malawi (5 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ).

Palearctic populations migratory and dispersive: in Europe, post-breeding dispersal of juveniles from Jul, with birds moving on to winter quarters in Aug–Nov, migrating S across Mediterranean on broad front, mainly to sub-Saharan Africa, with occasional winter records in W Morocco, Mediterranean Basin (N to France, Spain and Italy) (6 Bonaccorsi, G. and Recorbet, B. (1998). Un cas d’hivernage du Crabier chevelu Ardeola railloides en Corse. Alauda. 66(2): 112. Close , 7 Grussu, M., G. Conca, A. Corso, and H. Dlensi (2006). Observations hivernales notables d’oiseaux en Tunisie. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 13(2):167–169. Close ) and Middle East (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); return to colonies in Apr–May, with depature from Africa commencing in Feb (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), and some birds overshooting (see Family Text), with records from Iceland, British Isles, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Scandinavia, among others (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Southernmost recovery of Eurasian breeder in Africa was Russian-ringed bird at L Albert (Uganda/Congo border) (8 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), while a juvenile ringed in Azerbaijan was recovered in Ethiopia (3120 km) (9 Ash, J. S., and J. Atkins (2009). Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: An Atlas of Distribution. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). African populations mostly sedentary with some local movements; birds from Madagascar regularly cross over to Africa. Accidental from Azores to Cape Verde Is, Príncipe (Jul 2012) (10 Valle, S. (2017). First confirmed record of Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides for São Tomé and Príncipe. Bull. African Bird Club. 24(1): 90–91. Close ), in the Comoros (records on four islands) (3 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), on Mauritius (May 1872) (3 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and the Seychelles (five records, Sept–Nov and Jan) (11 Tiatousse, R., Adams, R. and Skerrett, A. (2005). Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides: the first two records for Seychelles. Bull. African Bird Club. 12(1): 45–46. Close , 3 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), as well as recently in Brazil (on Fernando de Noronha, in Jun 1986, Nov–Dec 2004, Oct 2005 and Jan–Mar 2008) (12 Sick, H. (1997). Ornitologia Brasileira. Editora Nova Fronteira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Close , 13 Silva e Silva, R. and Olmos, F. (2006). Noteworthy bird records from Fernando de Noronha, northeastern Brazil. Rev. Bras. Orn. 14(4): 470–474. Close , 14 Davis, B.J.W. (2010). Squacco Heron Ardeolla ralloides in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago: the fourth Brazilian record with comments on the prospects for a colonisation event. Rev. Bras. Orn. 18(1): 61–63. Close ) and on St Helena (Aug–Dec 2012) (15 Hillman, J.C., Ellick, G., George, K. and Leo, D. (2014). First record of Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides for St. Helena, South Atlantic. Bull. African Bird Club. 21(1): 91–92. Close ).

Mainly insect larvae (mayflies, dragonflies and flies) (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), with some fish (Scardinus, Cyprinus, Carassius, Rhodeus, Alburnus, Lipomis, Tinca, Leiciscus, Abramis, Anguilla) (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) and amphibians (<em>Rana</em> , Hyla and Bombina frogs  and their tadpoles) (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); generally small prey  , up to 10 cm long; also amphipods (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), grasshoppers, beetles, earthworms (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), butterflies, spiders, crustaceans  , molluscs, lizards (Lacerta), snakes (Natrix), mammals (Sorex) (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) and exceptionally small birds (e.g. Sylvia warblers and Anthus pipits), once even attempting to prey on a Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Principal constituents in diet vary geographically, with insects most important in Russia, fish in Italy, frogs in France, while insects are main prey in rice fields (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Recent two-year study of nestling diet in S France found significant changes in composition since 1970s; currently it is dominated by insects (92% and 70% by biomass in 2000 and 2001, respectively), mainly Coleoptera (60% and 41%) and Orthoptera (27% in both years), while dry mass of Orthoptera, Coleoptera adults, Odonata and amphibians differed significantly between breeding sites, months and years; proportion of invertebrates (in biomass) increased from 36·5% in 1970 to 90–95% in 2000–2001, whereas the proportion of amphibians decreased from 49% and 33% in 1970–1971 to 5% and 9·5% in 2000 and 2001, respectively (16 Delord, K., Kayser, Y., Cohez, D., Befeld, S. and Hafner, H. (2004). Fluctuations in chick diet of the Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides in southern France: changes over the last 3126 years. Bird Study. 51(1): 69–75. Close ). Mainly crepuscular, but also feeds by day (ometimes selecting more open sites during early morning) (3 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and occasionally nocturnally (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); generally solitary, but sometimes in small flocks of up to eight with birds well-spaced out, each defending feeding territory, during breeding season, or even larger groups on migration and in winter (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). May feed with other herons and is sometimes robbed of prey by other species (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Normally passive feeder , hiding in vegetation and waiting for prey to approach (principal techniques are Standing and Walking Slowly , but also Standing Flycatching) (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); has been recorded using insects as bait and occasionally follows cattle in same way as Bubulcus ibis (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Generally forages within 5 km of breeding colonies (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Considered to be mainly silent, but a shrill, harsh-sounding “karr” is mainly heard at dusk, especially during breeding season or in alarm, and also gives frog-like croaking or grunting sounds, and a rasping “kek-kek-kek-kek” in aggression (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), while bill-clappering and low cooing noises may be heard following or during copulation (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Calls at colony generally higher pitched than those of A. idae (the two species breed together on Madagascar) (3 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Apr–Jul in Eurasia and N Africa; mainly during rains in Africa S of Sahara (except in W Africa, where many records of nesting during dry season) (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), May in Ivory Coast (17 Lachenaud, O., Oosterhuis, H.-J., Boedts, B. and Gunningham, J. (2008). Nouvelles observations ornithologiques en Côte d’Ivoire. Malimbus. 30(1): 19–29. Close ), Mar–Jun and Aug–Sept in Ethiopia, Jan–Aug in Kenya, May in Tanzania (18 Baker, N.E. (2009). Notes on nesting herons and other birds of interest at Lake Kalemawe in northern Tanzania. Scopus. 29(1): 19–20. Close ), Jan–May and Aug–Oct in Zambia (peak Mar–Apr) (8 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), Jan–May and Jul–Dec in South Africa; Aug–Mar (peak Oct–Dec) in Madagascar (3 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Seasonally monogamous and territorial, with pair-bonds forming on breeding grounds and territory confined to small area around nest (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Usually in small or large colonies, of up to 2000 nests in Tanzania, usually with 5–10 m between nests, occasionally just 0·5 m (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); typically forms small nuclei in mixed-species colonies of other herons, especially Egretta garzetta and Nycticorax nycticorax in Europe, and Bubulcus ibis and A. idae in Madagascar, but also nests with Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) (18 Baker, N.E. (2009). Notes on nesting herons and other birds of interest at Lake Kalemawe in northern Tanzania. Scopus. 29(1): 19–20. Close ), cormorants (Phalacrocorax), African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) (18 Baker, N.E. (2009). Notes on nesting herons and other birds of interest at Lake Kalemawe in northern Tanzania. Scopus. 29(1): 19–20. Close ) and Glossy Ibises (Plegadis falcinellus) (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Nests near or over water, in reedbeds, dense thickets (e.g. of willow), or trees; generally low, less than 4 m up (but up to 20 m), and normally more effectively hidden amongst vegetation than in other herons; nest is well-constructed platform of branches, twigs or reeds (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), typically 17–23 cm wide by 5–20 cm deep, and constructed by both sexes over 6–8 days, although male is usually responsible for collecting material (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Single-brooded (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), although double-brooding reported in Madagascar (3 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Average 2–4 green-blue eggs in Africa, usually more in Europe (4–7, once 12, presumably reflecting intraspecific brood parasitism) (19 González-Martín, M. and X. Ruiz (1996). Brood parasitism in herons. Colonial Waterbirds. 19(1):31–38. Close ), e.g. mean 4·4 at Ebro Delta (Spain), but currently only 3·2–3·3 in S France, where clutch sizes have declined during recent decades (20 Hafner, H., Bennetts, R.E. and Kayser, Y. (2001). Changes in clutch size, brood size and numbers of nesting Squacco Herons Ardeola ralloides over a 32-year period in the Camargue, southern France. Ibis. 143(1): 11–16. Close ), laid at 1–2-day intervals, with mean size 39 mm × 28 mm in Europe, 38 mm × 29 mm in S Africa and 37·3 mm × 27·5 mm in Madagascar (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), mass 12·5–19·1 g (3 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); incubation 22–24 days in Europe, 15–18 days reported in Madagascar, apparently mostly by female (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); chicks hatch asynchronously and have grey, buff and white down, with yellow eyes, greenish-yellow lores, dark-tipped yellow bill and olive-green legs grading to yellow at rear (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); fledging c. 45 days, 35 days in Madagascar. Records in Madagascar and Spain of interspecific parasitism of this species by Egretta garzetta and Bubulcus ibis (19 González-Martín, M. and X. Ruiz (1996). Brood parasitism in herons. Colonial Waterbirds. 19(1):31–38. Close , 3 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Few data on breeding success, but in Camargue (S France) 79·2% of eggs produced young and subsequent study in first region reported daily nest survival probabilities during egg and nestling periods were constant at 0·983 and 0·999, respectively, while nest survival was 0·7 and number of fledglings per breeding attempt was 1·8 (21 Delord, K., Kayser, Y., Barbraud, C. and Hafner, H. (2003). Variability in breeding parameters of the Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides. Bird Study. 50(3): 300–305. Close ); losses in part due to predation by raptors (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), but elsewhere young have also been observed being killed by Nycticorax nycticorax (3 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). First chicks to hatch generally more likely to fledge and in better condition (21 Delord, K., Kayser, Y., Barbraud, C. and Hafner, H. (2003). Variability in breeding parameters of the Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides. Bird Study. 50(3): 300–305. Close ). Sexual maturity generally reached at two years old, but at least one record of breeding in one-year-old bird (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). No data on longevity or mean annual survival (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). In Palearctic, population has shown marked fluctuations (see Family Text ), with marked decrease between c. 1920 and 1940, due to habitat destruction and persecution (both of which threats remain current in some areas), thereafter some recovery until c. 1960 (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), and apparently mainly on increase at present with total of c. 14,300–26,800 pairs in Europe and Turkey (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), of which perhaps as many as 2500 pairs were in Romania (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ): in S France, most recent estimate is of 576 pairs in 2007, when population was still increasing (22 Kayser, Y., Delord, K., Hafner, H., Cohez, D., Delgado, P. and Gauthier-Clerc, M. (2004). Variabilité des paramètres reproducteurs du Crabier chevelu Ardeola ralloides en Camargue. Alauda. 71(2): 289–290. Close , 23 Marion, L. (2009). Recensement national des hérons coloniaux de France en 23523527: Héron cendré, Héron pourpré, Héron bihoreau, Héron crabier, Héron garde-boeufs, Aigrette garzette, Grande Aigrette [National census of colonial breeding Herons in France 23523527: Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great White Egret]. Alauda. 77(4): 243–268. Close ); in Italy 30 pairs in 1950, 270 pairs in 1981 and 250–500 pairs in 1983–1993 (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); in Spain 100–200 pairs in 1963, up to 800 pairs in 1990 and 1032 pairs by 2006 (24 Gutiérrez, R. (2011). Hybrid Squacco Heron × Cattle Egret in Ebro delta, Spain, in September 293193 and January 29311. Dutch Birding. 33(5): 316–322. Close ). However, decreases have been recorded recently in Greece, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and, further afield, in Jordan (where presumed to be extinct as breeder, though may have nested in 1995) (25 Khoury, F. (1996) Observations on the avifauna of the Azraq wetland, Jordan, June 1995. Sandgrouse 18(2):52–57. Close ) and Kazakhstan (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). European Russia harbours an estimated 5000–6000 pairs, with formerly (1970) as many as c. 7000 pairs in the Volga Delta alone, but in 1990s just 300 pairs there (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), while Azerbaijan is speculated to support c. 15,000–18,000 pairs (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Bred in Israel for first time in 1959, and estimated 100 pairs by end of 1970s, while in neighbouring Egypt species first bred in upper Nile Valley in 1970s and reached delta in 1992, when 100+ pairs were estimated (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), bred in Cyprus (26 Whaley, D.J. and Dawes, J.C. (2005). Heron breeding records in Cyprus 243433–243434. Sandgrouse. 27(2): 160–162. Close ) and Syria (27 Murdoch, D. A., and K. F. Betton (2008). A Checklist of the Birds of Syria. Sandgrouse Supplement 2. Ornithological Society of the Middle East, Sandy, UK. Close ) in 2004, and has also recently started breeding in C Saudi Arabia (since 1991) (28 Jennings, M. C. (2004). Breeding birds in central Arabia, 1978–2003. Sandgrouse 26(1):35–47. Close ). Elsewhere in Arabia, breeding proven in Qatar in 2009 (and possibly in Bahrain the same year) (29 Anon. (2010). Recent reports. Phoenix. 26: 16-18. Close ) and perhaps in S Oman in 2012 (30 Tibbett, S. (2013). Night Heron and possibly Squacco Heron breeding near Salalah, Oman. Phoenix. 29: 24. Close ). Small numbers also breed S to N Morocco and, more occasionally, Tunisia (4 Snow, D. W., and C. M. Perrins, Editors (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Volume 1. Non-passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). In Africa, frequent or common to locally abundant, with estimated 2000–4000 birds wintering in Guinea Bissau, and 550–650 breeding pairs at Inner Delta of R Niger, Mali, where as many as 12,360 birds were counted in Jan 2001 (31 Girard, O., J. Thal, and B. Niagaté (2006). Waterbird counts in the inner Niger delta (Mali) in January 1999, 2000, and 2001. Malimbus 28(1):7–17. Close ); even more numerous S of equator, with an estimated 20,000 individuals in Tanzania (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Overall, sub-Saharan African population estimated at 300,000–600,000 individuals (3 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Common in Madagascar except in S, e.g. 1045 nests at Antananarivo in 1990, where species increasing at that time (1 Kushlan, J. A., and J. A. Hancock (2005). The Herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Has been suggested that species might soon start breeding on Fernando de Noronha, in Brazilian Atlantic (14 Davis, B.J.W. (2010). Squacco Heron Ardeolla ralloides in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago: the fourth Brazilian record with comments on the prospects for a colonisation event. Rev. Bras. Orn. 18(1): 61–63. Close ).