A medium-sized wading bird characterized by its iridescent dark plumage and curved bill, widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
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ADSENSE SLOT
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Wetlands, marshes, swamps, shallow lagoons, freshwater and coastal habitats with abundant aquatic vegetation and invertebrate populations
Ecological Role
Key wetland ecosystem predator, controls invertebrate populations, serves as prey for larger predators, and contributes to nutrient cycling in aquatic environments
Morphology
SKIN COATPredominantly dark bronze-brown to glossy green-purple feather coloration, breeding adults exhibit more intense iridescence
LIMBS WINGSLong legs for wading, relatively long wings for efficient flight, dark plumage with green and purple iridescent sheen
HEAD SENSORYLong, downward-curved bill adapted for probing soft substrates, keen eyesight for detecting prey
BODY STRUCTURESlender body, approximately 55-66 cm in length, with a wingspan of 80-105 cm, weighing 485-970 g
Data Source: TaxonHub Database
Image Credit: Giles Laurent
