Squacco Heron

Ardeola ralloides

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPelecaniformes (Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies)
FamilyArdeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GenusArdeola (Pond Herons)
SpeciesArdeola ralloides (Squacco Heron)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Etosha National Park

10 Verified sightings at Etosha National Park From 2019 to 2026

8,447 Verified sightings across all 61 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Etosha National Park

Ardea melanocephala

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Bubulcus ibis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Ardea cinerea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Egretta ardesiaca

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Egretta intermedia

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Ardea alba

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Egretta garzetta

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Butorides striata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Nycticorax nycticorax

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Scopus umbretta

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Platalea alba

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

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

← Back to Etosha National Park

Squacco Heron

About the Squacco Heron

Recent sightings of Squacco Heron in Etosha National Park

Closest Relatives at Etosha National Park

Black-headed Heron

Cattle Egret

Grey Heron

Black Heron

intermediate egret

Great Egret

Little Egret

Striated Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

African Sacred Ibis

Hamerkop

African Spoonbill

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found