Herons, Storks and Ibis of Hilton Head Island

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Herons, Storks and Ibis of Hilton Head Island

Oct 14, 2015

Hilton Head and the Lowcountry is home to many different and beautiful species of birds. All of the birds that you see wading and fishing along the edge of a marsh, lagoon, or lake most likely belong to the order (biological classification) Ciconiidae.

While there is some variation among these birds, characteristics generally shared by Ciconiidae birds include…

Heavy bodies with long necks, small heads and long, thin legs.

Long, rectangular wings and trailing legs easily visible in flight
Stout long bills that may show some distinct curvature or bright colors
Large, bulky nests that are often reused for multiple years
Carnivorous diets that include fish, amphibians, reptiles, insects, rodents and other prey
No syrinx and therefore limited vocal capability; bill clacks and clattering are most common

While this bird family is relatively small, 40 percent of the included species are considered endangered, threatened or vulnerable to severe population declines. Fortunately, Hilton Head Island is the perfect home for the Ciconiidae birds. Hilton Head has over the years succeeded in becoming a safe haven for these birds. Best places to locate these birds are in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, Audubon Nature Preserve, Lagoon System in Palmetto Dunes, Bird Conservatory in Hilton Head Plantation, or along the marshes.

The following Ciconiidae bird species can be spotted all over Hilton Head Island and the Lowcountry:

Great blue heron, Ardea herodias

Great egret, Ardea alba

Snowy egret, Egretta thula

Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea

Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor

Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens

Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis

Green heron, Butorides virescens

Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

Yellow-crowned night heron, Nyctanassa violacea

American white ibis, Eudocimus albus

Scarlet ibis, Eudocimus ruber (rarely seen in SC)

Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus

Roseate spoonbill, Platalea ajaja

Wood stork, Mycteria americana

Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis

American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus

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Herons, Storks and Ibis of Hilton Head Island