About the Goliath Heron
The Goliath heron, also known as the giant heron, is a very large wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller, declining numbers in Southwest and South Asia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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It is the world's largest living heron (though the extinct Bennu heron was larger). The height of the goliath heron is 120–152 cm (3 ft 11 in – 5 ft 0 in), the wingspan is 185–230 cm (6 ft 1 in – 7 ft 7 in) and the weight is 4–5 kg (8.8–11.0 lb). The tarsus measures from 21.2 to 25.5 cm (8.3 to 10.0 in) and the wing chord averages around 60.7 cm (23.9 in) in length. The culmen measures from 18 to 20 cm (7.1 to 7.9 in), while the bill from the gape measures around 24 cm (9.4 in). In flight it has a slow and rather ponderous look and, unlike some other herons, its legs are not held horizontally.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Goliath Heron lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in India, Eritrea, Mauritania, United Arab Emirates, Togo, Sri Lanka.
When to see the Goliath Heron
Peak activity in November · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Great-billed HeronArdea sumatranaThe great-billed heron is a large bird, typically standing 115 cm (45 in) tall and weighing up to 2.6 kg (5.7 lb).
Humblot's HeronArdea humblotiHumblot's heron has a uniform dark gray plumage on its body and darker feathers on its forehead and chin.
White-bellied HeronArdea insignisThe white-bellied heron has a uniform dark grey plumage, a whitish belly, and long silvery or whitish plumes on the rear crown and lower foreneck.
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