Squacco Heron
Squacco HeronSquacco HeronSquacco HeronSquacco Heron

Squacco Heron

Ardeola ralloides

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
at Ankarafantsika National Park
293 Verified sightings at Ankarafantsika National Park From 2019 to 2026
8,447 Verified sightings across all 61 parks From 2019 to 2026
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Squacco Heron

The squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides) is a small heron, 44–47 cm (17+1⁄2–18+1⁄2 in) long, of which the body is 20–23 cm (8–9 in), with 80–92 cm (31+1⁄2–36 in) wingspan. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Europe and the Greater Middle East.

The squacco heron is a migrant, wintering in Africa. It is rare north of its breeding range. The species has been recorded in Fernando de Noronha islands, and more rarely in mainland South America, as a vagrant. This is a stocky species with a short neck, short thick bill and buff-brown back. In summer, adults have long neck feathers. Its appearance is transformed in flight, when it looks very white due to the colour of the wings.

The squacco heron's breeding habitat is marshy wetlands in warm countries. The birds nest in small colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. Three to four eggs are laid. They feed on fish, frogs and insects. The squacco heron is a host of the Acanthocephalan intestinal parasite Ardeirhynchus spiralis.

The English common name squacco comes via Francis Willughby (c. 1672) quoting a local Italian name sguacco. The current spelling... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Ankarafantsika National Park

Madagascar Pond Heron
EN

Madagascar Pond Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardeola idae

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Cattle Egret
LC

Cattle Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubulcus ibis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Purple Heron
LC

Purple Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea purpurea

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Striated Heron
LC

Striated Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Butorides striata

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Great Egret
LC

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Little Egret
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Black Heron
LC

Black Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta ardesiaca

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Black-crowned Night Heron
LC

Black-crowned Night Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nycticorax nycticorax

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Humblot's Heron
EN

Humblot's Heron

Bird

Ardea humbloti

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Grey Heron
LC

Grey Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea cinerea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Madagascar Ibis
VU Endemic

Madagascar Ibis

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Lophotibis cristata

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Glossy Ibis
LC

Glossy Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plegadis falcinellus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Ankarafantsika National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~60%
2 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
3 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~50%
4 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~40%
5 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~40%
6 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~30%
7 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~30%
8 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~30%
9 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
10 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
11 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~20%
12 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~20%
13 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~20%
14 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~20%
15 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
~20%
16 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
17 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
18 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
19 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
20 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
21 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
22 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
23 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
24 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~10%
25 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~10%
26 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
27 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
28 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
29 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
30 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
31 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
32 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
33 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
34 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
35 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
<5%
36 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
37 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
<5%
38 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
39 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
40 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
41 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
42 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
43 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
44 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
45 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
46 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
Insufficient data
47 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
48 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
49 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
50 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
51 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
52 Ranomafana National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
Insufficient data
53 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
54 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
55 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
56 Plitvice Lakes National Park 🇭🇷 Croatia
Insufficient data
57 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
58 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data
59 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
60 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
61 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Squacco Heron in Ankarafantsika National Park?

About 60% of wildlife watchers report a Squacco Heron sighting in Ankarafantsika National Park, based on 293 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Squacco Heron in Ankarafantsika National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Squacco Heron in Ankarafantsika National Park in our monthly data.

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