Bare-throated tiger heron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bare-throated tiger heron |
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Tigrisoma
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| Species: |
mexicanum
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| Bare-throated tiger heron range | |
The bare-throated tiger heron (scientific name: Tigrisoma mexicanum) is a cool wading bird. It belongs to the heron family. You can find these birds from Mexico all the way to northwestern Colombia. One was even seen in Hidalgo County, Texas in the United States!
This heron is quite large. It can be about 80 centimeters (31 inches) long. It weighs around 1,200 grams (2.6 pounds), which is like a small bag of sugar.
These birds like open places near water. They live by rivers and lake banks. They are very patient hunters. They often stand still, waiting for food to come close. Their long bill helps them catch prey. They love to eat fish, frogs, and crabs.
Bare-throated tiger herons usually build their nests alone. They don't live in big groups like some other herons. Their nest is a flat platform made of sticks in a tree. The female bird lays 2 or 3 eggs. These eggs are white with a slight green tint.
Contents
What Does the Bare-throated Tiger Heron Look Like?
The bare-throated tiger heron has some unique features. Its throat has no feathers. It can be greenish-yellow or orange. This color stays the same no matter how old the bird is.
Adult Heron Colors
An adult bare-throated tiger heron has a black crown on its head. The sides of its head are light grey. The sides of its neck and its upper body are blackish. They have thin, buff-colored stripes. A white stripe runs down the front of its neck. This stripe has black borders. The rest of its belly is a dull cinnamon brown color.
Young Heron Colors
Young herons, called juveniles, look different. They are buff-colored with thick black stripes. Their wings have more mottled and wavy patterns. Their throat, the middle of their belly, and their lower belly are whitish.
How They Fly and What They Sound Like
When a bare-throated tiger heron flies, it looks heavy. They make a loud, rough call that sounds like "howk-howk-howk." Male herons also make a deep booming sound. It sounds like "hrrrowwr!" They often make this call when the sun is setting. When they boom, their beak opens wide. You can see their throat move as they make the sound.
Images for kids
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A young bare-throated tiger heron on its nest.
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A juvenile bare-throated tiger heron.
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