Black Heron - Egretta ardesiaca

This small Heron has a very peculiar hunting method, it uses its wings to create an umbrella which it holds over their head while hovering in shallow water. The reason for this technique has been widely debated and at the moment there is no clear decision. The main theories are reducing the reflection on the water’s surface, obscuring any sudden head movements when striking  and luring prey to a potential refuge.

They are primarily monogamous and nest in colonies with other aquatic bird species where it lays  2-4 eggs.

They are listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN Redlist, but in Madagascar it is highly threatened by human disturbance at breeding sites. As it is highly dependent on aquatic habitat it is vulnerable to human interference.