English            -            Capped Heron

Portuguese     -            Garça-real

Latin                 -            Pilherodius pileatus

At REGUA (Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu) the Capped Heron is a very common species to see. You will see  plenty when you walk around the wetlands (yellow trail) at the reserve. They are quite shy of human presence but if you are quite enough as you walk around the wetlands you can get reasonably close to them without disturbing them. They would be the most common heron to see during the day around the wetlands. Other types of herons at the reserve tend only to roost at the wetlands at night. The Capped Heron would have been one of the birds I photographed most at the reserve only because of the numbers that are located there. As most wildlife, best photographed in bright sunlight to enhance the colours that the attractive bird has.

* The Capped Heron is around 60 cm in length and weighs up to 550 grm

* They are found in Panama, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay. 

* They are found in forested swamps, river courses and small pools. Although they seem adaptable to any habitat with water. 

*  Capped Herons feed in shallow water or at water edges, feeding on very small fish, amphibians and aquatic insects and larvae.

* They utters honks, harsh sounds and brief croaks.

* Not a lot of info in known about its breeding habits but the female lays from 2-4 eggs which are incubated for 26-27 days. 

* The Capped Heron has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for a Vulnerable rating under the range-size criterion. Nevertheless, it occurs in very low densities and is considered “rare” in Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama. They appear to be adaptable and may be expanding its use of man-made habitats. However, given that it is mainly a riverine forest species, the loss of this habitat due to logging and conversion of forest to pasture might pose long-term threats.