Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, and Allies (<em>Ciconiiformes</em>)

American Bittern– Examing threats in"Bittern Stance" Botaurus lentiginosus February – Texas L=28” ...... WS=26” ....... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

American Bittern– Foraging Botaurus lentiginosus March – Texas L=28” ...... WS=26” ....... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

American Bittern – Stalking PreyBotaurus lentiginosus February – Texas L=28"......WS=42"......WT=1.5 lb Order: Ciconiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, and Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)

Great Blue Heron – With recently caught BowfinArdea herodias March – Texas L=46” ...... WS=72” ...... WT=5.3 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) Great Blue Herons forage primarily by walking slowly through water, often chest deep, and quickly striking their prey with their bill, which is adapted for both grasping and spearing. Like all other birds of the family Ardeidae the Great Blue Heron has an “S” shaped neck in which the bones of the neck are even more “S” shaped than the neck itself. This extra length of vertebrae serves two functions - (i) since the vertebrae cross from behind to in front of the esophagus, the bones can protect the esophagus during a strike and (ii) this added length allows for incredible quickness in the strike itself.

Great Egret – Preening in breeding plumageArdea alba April – Texas L=39” ...... WS=51” ...... WT=1.9 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Great Egret – In early morningArdea alba October – Texas L=39” ...... WS=51” ...... WT=1.9 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns

Great Egret – Diving from flight to catch a fish Ardea alba October – Texas L=39” ...... WS=51” ...... WT=1.9 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns Great Egrets inhabit diverse wetland settings, including small ponds, large lakes, estuaries, and tidal basins. They feed by foraging, primarily by walking slowly through the water and quickly striking with their bill. They also will regularly stand near or over the water and wait for prey. Occasionally, they will, as seen here grab prey from flight.

Great Egret – Grabbing a fish from flight Ardea alba October – Texas L=39” ...... WS=51” ...... WT=1.9 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Little Blue Heron – Watching for danger Egretta caerylea March – Texas L=26” ...... WS=36” ....... WT=13 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Little Blue Heron – Alarm call Egretta caerylea March – Texas L=26” ...... WS=36” ....... WT=13 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Little Blue Heron – About to dive for fish Egretta caerylea March – Texas L=26” ...... WS=36” ....... WT=13 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Little Blue Heron – Foraging Egretta caerylea December – Texas L=26” ...... WS=36” ....... WT=13 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Little Blue Heron – Foraging Egretta caerylea January – Texas L=26” ...... WS=36” ....... WT=13 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Tricolored Heron – ForagingEgretta tricolor February – Texas L=26” ...... WS=36”...... WT=13 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) Tricolored Herons, formerly known as Louisiana Herons, are a day-heron found only in the New World. This bird probably did not suffer as greatly as other egrets and herons at the hand of the plume trade early in the 20th century and was the most numerous of the species until the Cattle Egret population expanded during the last half of the 20th century.

Tricolored Heron – ForagingEgretta tricolor February – Texas L=26” ...... WS=36”...... WT=13 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Cattle Egret – Male in breeding plumage foragingBubulcus ibis April – Texas L=20” ...... WS=36” ....... WT= 12 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) Cattle Egrets are unique among North American herons, bitterns and egrets in that they commonly forage alongside grazing cattle or behind farm equipment, both of which stir up insects. They are frequently seen standing on the backs of the grazing animals, which display little hostility to the egrets.

Green Heron – Foraging Butorides virescens April – Texas L=18” ...... WS=26” ...... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Green Heron – Foraging Butorides virescens July – Texas L=18” ...... WS=26” ....... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) Green Herons are shy birds that inhabit wetland thickets over a broad range in North America. When foraging they will stalk prey while moving slowly through the water or wait patiently on branches over the water. They are one of the few birds that use tools or bait, such as twigs or leaves, to attract prey.

Green Heron – Foraging Butorides virescens July – Texas L=18” ...... WS=26” ...... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) Young Green Herons are dependent on their parents for an estimated 30 days. During this time they stay near the nest hopping or flying from branch to branch and practicing foraging.

Black-crowned Night-Heron – Inner city Houston,Texas Nycticox nycticox June – Texas L=25”...... WS=44”...... WT=1.9 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) Black-crowned Night-Herons feed on a variety of aquatic organisms, especially fish. They prefer shallow vegetated creeks, ponds, marshes and wetlands and, as their name implies, they prefer to feed at night. However, they do extend their feeding period into daylight hours when raising their young which occurs simultaneously with short days in North America. The bird pictured here was feeding during mid-morning and was found far from its normal habitat.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron – restingNyctanassa violacea July – Texas L=24” ...... WS=42” ....... WT=1.5 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) This species most often inhabits forested wetlands, swamps, and bayous of the deep south where poor lighting seems to be the most reliable characteristic of its breeding sites. Because Yellow-crowned Night-Herons are dark bodied and nest under canopy in forested areas, aerial surveys are ineffective in determining population status and because colonies are small and scattered, ground surveys are economically unfeasible. Yellow-crowned Night-Herons are frequently not listed at all in results of broad surveys for wading birds. Numerous species of birds sun and adopt quite varied positions in doing so. There is little experimental data to establish the function of sunning but some suggested purposes include keeping the feathers supple through limited heating, harming or repositioning parasites, saving energy by taking up solar heat and simply doing it because it feels good. A number of large water birds stand for many minutes with their wings extended in a pose known as “spead-wing posture”. This type of sunning is most certainly done to help dry the feathers and to increase body heat.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron – In flight and callingNyctanassa violacea April – Texas L=24” ...... WS=42” ....... WT=1.5 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron – At Nest March 23rdNyctanassa violacea March – Texas L=24” ...... WS=42” ....... WT=1.5 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron – On eggs April 7thNyctanassa violacea April – Texas L=24” ...... WS=42” ....... WT=1.5 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron – JuvenileNyctanassa violacea September – Texas L=24” ...... WS=42” ....... WT=1.5 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

White Ibis – In the cloudsEudocimus albus April – Texas L=25” ...... WS=38” ...... WT=2 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)

White Ibis – ForagingEudocimus albus February – Texas L=25” ...... WS=38” ...... WT=2 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)

White Ibis – ForagingEudocimus albus February – Texas L=25” ...... WS=38” ...... WT=2 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)

Roseate Spoonbill – FlyingPlatalea ajaja April – Texas L=32” ...... WS=50” ...... WT=3.3 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)

White Ibis – Juvenile ForagingEudocimus albus February – Texas L=25” ...... WS=38” ...... WT=2 lb Order:Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills) White Ibises are in the same order as herons, storks, spoonbills, and New World vultures. They inhabit any area with shallow water or soft substrate. Their decurved bill is used to probe water or mud and they will, like spoonbills, sometimes swish their bill sideways and grasp prey that comes in contact with it.

Glossy Ibis – With Breeding Plumage ForagingPledgadis falcinellus April – Texas L=23” ...... WS=36” ...... WT=1.2 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills) The wisest of the Egyptian gods was Thoth, the patron of writing, astronomy, mathematics, law, magic, and healing. Thoth was usually depicted as an ibis headed man or as a full ibis. The ibis was relatively common throughout Egypt until the 19th Century, but now has almost disappeared. In North America during the 20th century the Glossy Ibis has gone from a rare species found predominately in Florida to a common breeder as far north as Maine This remarkable range expansion compares to the related White-faced Ibis which suffered greatly in the 1960's and 70's due to pesticides, draught, and drainage of mesting areas.

Black Vulture – SoaringCoragyps atratus April – Texas L=25”...... WS=59”....... WT=4.4 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Cathartidae (New World Vultures) Black Vultures cannot find food by smell and so are not as adept at finding dead animals as the Turkey Vulture. Where their habitats overlap, which is a very broad area in the southern half of the U.S., Black Vultures will follow Turkey Vultures to find food. Then, even though they are slightly smaller, the Black Vultures will dominate the Turkey Vultures and take the food. Turkey Vultures compensate for this by hunting for small animals that can be eaten quickly. Black Vultures have a higher wing loading (total body weight to wing area) and thus require stronger thermals to soar and have to flap their wings more frequently, a very energy intensive action. Consequently, Black Vultures have to wait later in the day to start hunting and they cannot live as far north as Turkey Vultures who live over the entire continental U.S. and into Canada.

Turkey Vulture – SoaringCathartes aura February – Texas L=26”...... WS=67”....... WT=4 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Cathartidae (New World Vultures) Vultures have naked heads and necks which allows them to insert their heads into dead animals without fouling feathers. While they prefer fresh dead they will eat animals in differing degrees of putrefaction. Since the availability of carrion is uncertain, vultures have adapted the ability to eat large quantities of food and then go several days before eating again. Turkey Vultures hunt by sight and smell, a trait most unusual for birds. This ability to smell allows Turkey Vultures to hunt in woodland settings where purely visual hunting would be impossible.