Stats

Lifespan

6-10 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Carnivore

Activity

Crepuscular

Social

Solitary

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

The Americas

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Camouflage

Status

Uncommon

About

This tiny heron hides among the dense reeds of freshwater marshes in the Americas. It stretches its neck and sways with the wind to mimic reeds while stalking small fish.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A clutch of eggs is incubated in the nest, kept warm by a brooding parent until the chicks pip free.
2. 2.
   hatchling

   A naked or downy hatchling is fed in the nest by its parents.
3. 3.
   juvenile

   A feathered juvenile fledges from the nest and learns to fly and forage.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown with adult plumage.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Pelecaniformes

Family

Ardeidae

Genus

Botaurus

Species

Botaurus exilis