{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{speciesbox | image = Lavaheron-santafe.jpg | image_caption = Adult on Santa Fe Island | genus = Butorides | species = sundevalli | authority = (Reichenow, 1877) | synonyms = ''Butorides striata sundevalli'' |synonyms_ref = <ref name=avibase>{{avibase|7F14FB50AB9DC01D|Galapagos heron}}</ref>
| range_map = Butorides sundevalli map.svg
}} The '''lava heron''' ('''''Butorides sundevalli'''''), also known as the '''Galápagos heron''', is a species of heron endemic to the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador. It is 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.<ref name=avibase/>
==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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.santacruzgalapagoscruise.com/lava-heron-nesting-season/|title=Lava Heron Nesting Season in Galapagos is here! Heads Up Birders!|date=2017-10-20|website=Santa Cruz Galapagos Cruise|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-16}}</ref><gallery mode="packed" heights="120"> File:Galapagos Striated Heron imported from iNaturalist photo 261543157 on 3 December 2024.jpg|Young juvenile swallowing a bird, San Cristóbal Island. File:Striated heron (Butorides striata sundevalli) juvenile.jpg|Older juvenile, Isabela Island File:Galápagos (lava) heron (Butorides sundevalli) young adult.JPG|Young adult, Isabela Island </gallery>
==Distribution and habitat== These highly territorial birds are found in intertidal zones and mangrove swamps on all of the islands of Galápagos Province.
==Behavior== thumb|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.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Moran|first=Matthew D.|date=June 2010|title=Predation by a Lava Heron (Butorides Striata Sundevalli) on a Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) in the Galapagos Islands|journal=Waterbirds|volume=33|issue=2|pages=258–259|doi=10.1675/063.033.0216|issn=1524-4695}}</ref>
=== Interactions === These birds have little fear of humans. It has been noted they have flight behaviors, some of which may carry the purpose of territory defense/advertising.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Kushlan|first=James A.|date=1983|title=Pair Formation Behavior of the Galapagos Lava Heron|journal=The Wilson Bulletin|volume=95|issue=1|pages=118–121|issn=0043-5643|jstor=4161721}}</ref>
=== Calls === Lava herons are typically seen hunched over and they have a sharp alarm call (described as a ''scow'' sound).<ref name=":1" /> During aggressive behavior they will use a ''skuk-skuk'' call.<ref name=":1" />
==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. <ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{reflist}}'''Resources'''
*Heinzel, Hermann and Barnaby Hall. Galapagos Diary. Los Angeles; University of California Press, 2000.
{{Taxonbar|from=Q603374}}
lava heron Category:Endemic birds of the Galápagos Islands Category:Galápagos Islands coastal fauna lava heron