Lava heron

Lava heron
Adult on Isla Bartolome
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Butorides
Species:
B. sundevalli
Binomial name
Butorides sundevalli
(Reichenow, 1877)
Synonyms

Butorides striata sundevalli

The lava heron (Butorides sundevalli), also known as the Galápagos heron, is a species of heron endemic to the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador. It was considered by some authorities, including the American Ornithological Society and BirdLife International, to be a subspecies (or even just a colour morph) of the striated heron (B. striata), and was formerly lumped with this species and the green heron (B. virescens) as the green-backed heron. Recent research has shown (unexpectedly) that it is more closely related to the North American green heron, than it is to the geographically much closer South American striated heron, and its status as a Galápagos endemic species is now universally accepted.

Description

The adult is slate-grey to black, which allows it to blend in with the hardened lava. The back feathers typically have a silvery sheen and it has a short crest on its head. When breeding, the heron has a black beak and bright orange legs, but these fade to grey after the breeding season.

Distribution and habitat

These highly territorial birds are found in intertidal zones and mangrove swamps on all of the islands of Galápagos Province.

Behaviour

Lava heron stalking crabs, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Diet

The lava heron stalks small crabs and fish slowly before quickly spearing and eating them. They have also been known to eat the flies that gather near cacti and occasionally smaller birds.

Interactions

These birds have little fear of humans. It has been noted they have flight behaviour, some of which may carry the purpose of territory defence and advertising.

Calls

Lava herons are typically seen hunched over and they have a sharp alarm call, described as a scow sound. During aggressive behaviour they will use a skuk-skuk call.

Breeding

Unlike most herons, these birds nest in solitary pairs for one breeding season in either the lower branches of mangrove trees or under lava rocks. They can breed year-round, though typically from September to March, and can mate up to three times a year and have up to ten eggs each time.

References

  1. 1 2 "Galapagos heron". Avibase.
  2. ↑ Mendales, Ezra Z.; McCormack, John E.; Castañeda Cepeda, Jason S.; Dumbacher, John P.; Chaves, Jaime A. (2026). "Global phylogenetic relationships of Butorides herons (Aves: Ardeidae) reveal the evolutionary history and taxonomic status of the Galápagos Lava Heron". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 220 108600. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2026.108600. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
  3. ↑ AviList Core Team (2025). "AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025". doi:10.2173/avilist.v2025. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
  4. 1 2 3 "Lava Heron Nesting Season in Galapagos is here! Heads Up Birders!". Santa Cruz Galapagos Cruise. 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  5. ↑ Moran, Matthew D. (June 2010). "Predation by a Lava Heron (Butorides striata sundevalli) on a Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) in the Galapagos Islands". Waterbirds. 33 (2): 258–259. doi:10.1675/063.033.0216. ISSN 1524-4695.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Kushlan, James A. (1983). "Pair Formation Behavior of the Galapagos Lava Heron". The Wilson Bulletin. 95 (1): 118–121. ISSN 0043-5643. JSTOR 4161721.