Zigzag Heron

Overview

The zigzag heron is a reclusive species of true bittern within the family Ardeidae and the monotypic genus Zebrilus. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Adult plumage is grey with fine zigzag barring and a pale underside.
• Juveniles have a dark back with a brown head and underside.
• Stands about 32 cm (12+1/2 in) in height.
• Possesses short legs and necks with cryptic plumage.

Habitat

Found throughout the Amazon Basin east of the Andes and in bordering countries including Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, as well as the Guianas. Its natural habitat consists of subtropical or tropical swamps, with the range extending no further northwest than the Orinoco River basin or east of the Tapajós River drainage in the southeast.

Did you know?

The genus name Zebrilus is a diminutive of the French word zèbre, meaning zebra, referencing the bird's wave-like markings.