Goliath Heron lives in large rivers, lakes, estuaries, swamps, marshes, and other freshwater and shallow saltwater habitats. This bird prefers areas with big fish to support its feeding habits. This Heron is a non-migratory species, though it may move to more favourable hunting habitat if the conditions warrant it. Females are slightly smaller than males. Juveniles have more rufous, mottled breasts and bellies, and less distinct stripes.
They use primarily loud squawks to communicate. They typically feed upon large fish, employing what scientists call a “Jackpot” strategy: goliath herons seem to pass up numerous opportunities to eat smaller fish in a gamble to not disturb the water and thereby be able to catch large ones.
This Heron spends most of its time standing on its long legs in the water, waiting for prey to come nearby. It is a nocturnal feeder and is most active at night. When it does need to fly, to avoid a possible predator, for instance, it does so with slow, deliberate wingbeats. Goliath herons are relatively skittish and will fly away if anything it deems a threat approaches.
Nests are constructed of sticks and twigs. The nests are at least 1 meter in diameter and are typically found on islands in low vegetation (below 3 meters). Goliath herons sometimes nest with other birds in mixed rookeries, and sometimes solitarily. Goliath herons lay a clutch of 2 to 5 pale blue eggs, of which typically no more than one or two chicks survive. Chicks are born altricial, with downy feathers and eyes closed. After 25-30 days of incubation, chicks are fed twice-daily through regurgitation by the parents. After five weeks in the nest, chicks leave but are still cared for by their parents for an adjusting period of 40 to 80 days.
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