Rufous-bellied Heron

The Rufous-bellied Heron, a small and rather secretive bird, presents a striking contrast in its plumage. Its upper parts, including the head, back, and breast, are cloaked in a dark grey, while the underparts exhibit a warm rufous hue that extends to the wings and tail. In flight, one can't help but notice the bright yellow legs and feet that stand out against the dark feathers below.

Identification Tips

To identify this species, look for the distinctive rufous belly that gives the bird its name. The juveniles may initially confuse observers with their paler, browner tones, but they gradually darken as they mature. The yellow legs in flight are a key feature to watch for.

Habitat

The Rufous-bellied Heron favors wetlands, making its home in seasonally flooded grasslands, marshes, flood-plains such as the Okavango Delta, and along the banks of rivers and lakes. It is also known to inhabit papyrus stands, reedbeds, and paddies.

Distribution

This heron is native to sub-Saharan Africa, with its range extending across eastern, central, and southern regions. It is notably absent from the arid south-west.

Behaviour

A master of concealment, the Rufous-bellied Heron often adopts a bittern-like stance, remaining motionless with its bill horizontal to blend into the wetland vegetation. It is predominantly sedentary, though it may undertake partial migrations in response to the seasonal flooding of plains.

Breeding

The breeding season aligns with the rains or peak flooding in regions where this occurs early in the dry season. Rufous-bellied Herons nest colonially, often on the fringes of mixed-species colonies, with their nests being small platforms of vegetation situated low over standing water.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Rufous-bellied Heron primarily consists of small fish, such as tilapia and barbus, along with amphibians, crustaceans, aquatic insects, and other invertebrates found in their wetland habitats.

Conservation status

The Rufous-bellied Heron is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers.