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WetlandPlatform nestHuge · 4.5 kg
ID tip
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.
When to see the Goliath Heron
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Goliath Heron
The map shades 43 countries with regular records, and 6 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in India, Eritrea, Mauritania, United Arab Emirates, Togo, Sri Lanka.
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.
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.
Side by side: Cocoi Heron vs Goliath Heron · Goliath Heron vs White-necked Heron · Boat-billed Heron vs Goliath Heron · Goliath Heron vs Great-billed Heron
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