EN
Madagascar Heron Ardea humbloti



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. J.; Christie, D. A.; Elliott, A.; Fishpool, L. D. C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.

IUCN Red list criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- C2a(ii) C2a(i,ii)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2016 Endangered C2a(ii)
2012 Endangered C2a(ii)
2008 Endangered C2a(ii)
2006 Endangered
2004 Endangered
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency Low
Land mass type Land-mass type - shelf island
Average mass -
Distribution

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) 660,000 medium
Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) 766,000 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely Fragmented -
Population and trend
Value Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
No. of mature individuals 1000 medium estimated 2007
Population trend Decreasing medium suspected -
Decline (3 years/1 generation past) - - -
Decline (5 years/1 generation past) - - -
Decline (10 years/1 generation past) - - -
Decline (10 years/3 generation future) - - -
Decline (10 years/3 generation past and future) - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage in largest subpopulation 100 - - -
Generation length (yrs) 10.5 - - -

Population justification: Survey data from 2003 and 2004 combined with past literature suggests that there are no more than 1,500 individuals, roughly equivalent to 1,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification: This species's population is suspected to be decreasing in line with levels of egg-collection and hunting, cutting of nesting-trees, conversion of remaining wetlands to rice-paddies, and siltation of wetlands as a result of watershed deforestation. The likely rate of population decline, however, has not been estimated.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Occurrence status Presence Resident Breeding Non-breeding Passage
Comoros V Extant
Madagascar N Extant Yes
Mayotte (to France) V Extant

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Madagascar Ankarana Special Reserve
Madagascar Ambavanankarana wetland
Madagascar Ampasindava Bay wetlands
Madagascar Sahamalaza - Radama Islands National Marine Park
Madagascar Ankaizina wetlands
Madagascar Port-Bergé Wetlands NPA and extension
Madagascar Ankobohobo wetland
Madagascar Mahajamba Bay - Anjavavy Complex
Madagascar Bombetoka Bay - Marovoay NPA
Madagascar Mahavavy - Kinkony wetlands NPA
Madagascar Baly Bay National Park
Madagascar Ankarafantsika National Park and Ampijoroa
Madagascar Maevatanana - Ambato-Boeny wetlands
Madagascar Tambohorano Wetland NPA
Madagascar Barren Islands MPA
Madagascar Bemamba Wetland Complex
Madagascar Manambolomaty wetland complex and Tsimembo Classified Forest
Madagascar Lake Alaotra NPA
Madagascar Lake Itasy
Madagascar Wetlands of the Tsiribihina delta and upper Tsiribihina river
Madagascar Lake Ihotry - Mangoky Delta Complex NPA
Madagascar Nosy Manitse Future SAPM Marine and surrounding wetlands
Madagascar Lakes Anony and Erombo
Madagascar Lake Ihotry Hunting Reserve and the Mangoky Delta complex
Madagascar Mikea
Madagascar Angodoka-Ambakoa (Besalampy)
Madagascar Coastal area between Lokaro and Lavanono
Madagascar Ambondrombe (Belo sur Tsiribihana) NPA
Madagascar Ampasindava - Rigny Bay (East) NPA
Madagascar Antrema NPA
Madagascar Lake Ihotry - Mangoky Delta Complex NPA
Madagascar Tsimembo - Manambolomaty - Bemamba Complex NPA
Madagascar Menabe Central Corridor NPA
Madagascar Tsitongambarika NPA

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Vegetation Above High Tide Level suitable resident
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes major resident
Marine Intertidal Mud Flats and Salt Flats major resident
Marine Neritic Coral Reef major resident
Marine Neritic Estuaries major resident
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) major resident
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) major resident
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) major resident
Altitude 0 - 1500 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 3
Stresses
Competition
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species disturbance, Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Human intrusions & disturbance Work & other activities Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species disturbance
Pollution Agricultural & forestry effluents - Soil erosion, sedimentation Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Species factsheet: Ardea humbloti. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/03/2023. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2023) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/03/2023.