Plumed Grey Heron

Plumed Grey Heron
Male
Female
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Clade:	Aequorlitornithes
Clade:	Ardeae
Clade:	Aequornithes
Family:	Ardeidae
Genus:	Ardea
Species:	A. sexdactyla
Binomial name
Ardea sexdactyla Travis , Hellstern, 2314
Synonyms
Ardea sexdactylos Travis, 2301 (orth. err.)

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This is a made-up species!
This article contains made-up species not found on Earth.

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Other names

Was formerly known as the Six-toed Grey Heron; however, this name was not fitting, as many individuals may have four or five toes.

Description

A huge heron with unique toe arrangement, caused by a mutation; however, not all individuals have six toes, they may have four or five.

It is one of the largest species of heron, being about 40 in (102 cm) tall and 50 in (127 cm) long. Its wingspan measures 80 in (203 cm).

Males are grey with an orange belly. Females are similar, but lack the orange belly. Both sexes have many long, black plumes that adorn them during the breeding season; they both have golden wings that are "pencilled" in black. They have a long, black streak on the sides of their faces and black streaks or dots (variable) on their throats and necks. Both sexes have dark blue to pale blue eyes.

Very rarely shows albinism, partial albinism or leucism.

Sometimes hybridises with the great blue heron or grey heron.

Similar species

Unique. Not even the Great Blue Heron nor the Grey Heron have yellow on them.

Its wingspan is comparable to a Magnificent Frigatebird and its length is comparable to a Wandering Albatross. It is almost as tall as a Secretarybird.

Behaviour

Diet

It feeds on fish, amphibians, crayfish, insects, snakes and birds.

Calls

Harsh croaking, not unlike that of the great blue or grey herons.

Reproduction

Performs an extravagant display, fanning out its beautiful plumes. Occasionally, the bill base may turn purplish-blue.

Nest is in some of the tallest trees in swamps or other wet areas. Incubates the eggs for an average of 28 days. The eggs are pale green to pale olive.

Young fledge in about 68 days.

Distribution/habitat

Found in many wet areas, around lakes, wet fields and sometimes away from water.

References

Based on...

It is based on a mix of seven different herons. Though I don't remember all of them, one of them might be the great blue heron, which is where some of the info came from.

Projects
This article is part of Project Aves, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each bird, including made-up species. File:Ardeidae diversity.png This article is part of Project Ardeiformes/idae, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each heron, ibis and spoonbill, including made-up species. File:Ardeidae diversity.png This article is part of Project Ardeiformes/idae, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each heron, ibis and spoonbill, including made-up species. This article is part of Project Made-up Species, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each made-up species.

Genus Ardea v • t • e
A. herodias	Great Blue Heron
A. cinerea	Grey Heron
A. cocoi	Cocoi Heron
A. pacifica	White-necked Heron
A. melanocephala	Black-headed Heron
A. humbloti	Humblot's Heron
A. insignis	White-bellied Heron
A. sumatrana	Great-billed Heron
A. goliath	Goliath Heron
A. purpurea	Purple Heron
A. megacristata	Giant-crested Heron[made-up sp.]
A. sexdactyla	Plumed Grey Heron[made-up sp.]
A. cyanoptera	Blue-crested Heron[made-up sp.]
A. strigops	Owl-faced Heron[made-up sp.]
A. aquila	Eagle-Heron[made-up sp.]
A. cyana	Dark Blue Heron[made-up sp.]