Common name: Squacco Heron
Scientific name: Ardeola ralloides
Family: Ardeidae

Size:
Body length: 44–47 cm
Wingspan: 80–92 cm
Weight: 230–370 g

Identification:
A small, stocky heron with buff to sandy-brown plumage that blends remarkably well with reeds and wetland vegetation. In resting posture it appears rather plain, but in flight it reveals striking bright white wings contrasting sharply with the warmer body color. During breeding season, adults develop elongated pale head and back plumes. The bill is bluish with a dark tip, and the legs are yellowish.

Habitat:
Marshes, reedbeds, ponds, lagoons, riverbanks, and shallow freshwater wetlands.

Status in the UAE:
Passage migrant and winter visitor. Recorded in wetlands and coastal lagoons.

Status in Lebanon:
Passage migrant and local breeder in suitable wetland habitats.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on fish, amphibians, insects, crustaceans, and other aquatic prey.

Behavior:
Usually hunts slowly in shallow water, remaining motionless before making rapid strikes at prey. Often solitary but may gather in loose groups at feeding sites. Relies heavily on camouflage when resting among vegetation.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)