Pacific reef heron
Dark morph
Light morph
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Egretta
Species:
E. sacra
Binomial name
Egretta sacra
(Gmelin, 1789)

The Pacific reef heron (Egretta sacra), also known as the eastern reef heron or eastern reef egret, is a species of heron found throughout southern Asia and Oceania. It occurs in two colour morphs with either slaty grey or pure white plumage. The sexes are similar in appearance.

Taxonomy

The Pacific reef heron was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with the herons, cranes and egrets in the genus Ardea and coined the binomial name Ardea sacra.[2] Gmelin based his description on the "Sacred heron" that had been described in 1785 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his multi-volume work A General Synopsis of Birds. The naturalist Joseph Banks had provided Latham with a specimen of a white morph that had been collected on Tahiti.[3][4] The Pacific reef heron is now placed with 12 other species in the genus Egretta that was introduced in 1817 by the German naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster.[5][6] The genus name comes from the Provençal French for the little egret, aigrette, a diminutive of aigron, "heron". The specific epithet sacra is from Latin sacer meaning "sacred".[7] The Pacific reef heron is referred to by a variety of names by the indigenous peoples of the Pacific region. In New Zealand, multiple names have been given, including kākatai, matuku moana and matuku tai.[8] It is known as belō in Fiji, matu'u in the Samoan Islands, and motuku in Niue, Tonga, and Wallis Island.[9]

Two subspecies are recognised:[6]

Description

Pacific reef herons are medium-sized herons, reaching 57 to 66 cm (22 to 26 in) in length. They have a wingspan of between 90 and 110 cm (35 and 43 in) and reach an average weight of 400 g (14 oz). The species displays an unusual, non-sexual dimorphism, with some members having entirely white plumage ('light' morph) and others (the larger portion) being charcoal-grey ('dark' morph). The reason for the colour variation or "morph", is unknown, though it is most commonly thought to be related to camouflage. The plumage of immature herons tends to be browner and duller in colour.[10]

Pacific reef herons have yellow-grey legs, and the grey variety's throats and chins are marked by a narrow, white stripe. They have brown beaks, gold-yellow coloured eyes and the surrounding areas of their faces are normally of a greenish to yellow cast.[10][11]

Distribution and habitat

The Pacific reef heron is widely distributed across southern Asia and Oceania. In Australia, Pacific reef herons inhabits most of the coastline, and offshore islands including the Torres Strait Islands.[12]

Pacific reef herons are widespread across Micronesia, with breeding records in Guam, the Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau, among various other islands.[13] The species also breeds throughout western Polynesia, including in Fiji,[9] French Polynesia,[14] and Tonga[15] – though it does not breed in Niue.[9] Surveys of the Fijian island of Rotuma, conducted in 1991 and 2018, suggest that the Pacific reef heron has recently colonized the island.[16]

New Zealand is considered to be the southern limit of the Pacific reef heron's distribution.[17] Despite being relatively uncommon, the herons are found throughout the country, though are most common in Northland.[18]

Behaviour and ecology

Breeding

The species lay clutches of eggs year-round in colonies in the jungle, between palms and mangroves or in cavities of old buildings. Two to three paled greenish-blue eggs are laid in nests constructed from branches and blossoms. Males and females share brooding tasks. They normally have a 28-day brood period. After chicks are hatched, parents provide approximately five weeks of support.[19]

Food and feeding

Their food sources are made up predominantly of varieties of ocean-based fish, crustaceans, molluscs and worms.[19]

Conservation status

In New Zealand, the Pacific reef heron has the conservation status of "Nationally endangered". It has been classified as "Regionally Critical" in the Wellington region.[20]

Gallery

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Egretta sacra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22696980A131759460. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22696980A131759460.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Gmelin, Johann Friedrich (1789). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae : secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1, Part 2 (13th ed.). Lipsiae [Leipzig]: Georg. Emanuel. Beer. pp. 640–641.
  3. ^ Latham, John (1785). A General Synopsis of Birds. Vol. 3, Part 1. London: Printed for Leigh and Sotheby. pp. 92–93, No. 62.
  4. ^ Mayr, Ernst; Cottrell, G. William, eds. (1979). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 215.
  5. ^ Forster, T. (1817). A Synoptical Catalogue of British Birds; intended to identify the species mentioned by different names in several catalogues already extant. Forming a book of reference to Observations on British ornithology. London: Nichols, son, and Bentley. p. 59.
  6. ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2022). "Ibis, spoonbills, herons, Hamerkop, Shoebill, pelicans". IOC World Bird List Version 12.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  7. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 143, 345. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  8. ^ Ryan, P. M. (2012). The Raupo Dictionary of Modern Māori. Raupō. ISBN 9780143567899.
  9. ^ a b c Watling, Dick (2001). A guide to the birds of Fiji & Western Polynesia. Suva, Fiji: Environmental Consultants Fiji. p. 99.
  10. ^ a b Edgar, A. T. (1978). "The reef heron (Egretta sacra) in New Zealand" (PDF). Notornis. 25 (1): 25–58.
  11. ^ Marchant, S.; Higgins, P.G., eds. (1990). "Ardea sacra Eastern Reef Egret" (PDF). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds. Volume 1: Ratites to ducks; Part B, Australian pelican to ducks. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. pp. 1002–1009, Plate 71. ISBN 978-0-19-553068-1.
  12. ^ Lavery, Tyrone H.; Watson, Justin J.; Leung, Luke K.-P. (2012). "Terrestrial vertebrate richness of the inhabited Torres Strait Islands, Australia". Australian Journal of Zoology. 60 (3): 180–191. doi:10.1071/ZO12043. S2CID 73537024.
  13. ^ Wiles, Gary J. (2005). "A checklist of the birds and mammals of Micronesia". Micronesia. 38 (1): 149–189.
  14. ^ Beaune, David; Ghestemme, Thomas; Raust, Philippe; Blanvillain, Caroline (2018). "Herons of French Polynesia: threats, status and conservation" (PDF). Journal of Heron Biology and Conservation. 3. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  15. ^ Steadman, David W. (1993). "Biogeography of Tongan birds before and after human impact". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 90 (3): 818–882. Bibcode:1993PNAS...90..818S. doi:10.1073/pnas.90.3.818. PMC 45761. PMID 11607357.
  16. ^ Cibois, Alice; Thibault, Jean-Claude; Watling, Dick (2019). "Birds and bats of Rotuma, Fiji" (PDF). Notornis. 66 (3): 139–149.
  17. ^ Bell, Mike (2010). "A census of reef herons (Ardea sacra) in the Marlborough Sounds" (PDF). Notornis. 57 (3): 152–155.
  18. ^ Chambers, Stuart (2009). Birds of New Zealand: locality guide (PDF) (3rd ed.). Orewa, New Zealand: Arun Books. p. 91.
  19. ^ a b "Reef heron Egretta sacra". New Zealand Birds Online. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  20. ^ McArthur, Nikki; Ray, Samantha; Crowe, Patrick; Bell, Mike (August 2019). A baseline survey of the indigenous bird values of the Wellington region coastline (PDF) (Report). p. 19.
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