Striated Heron

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Striated Heron in Sydney?

Rare. Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Striated Heron sighting in Sydney on a given day, based on 876 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 82nd most-seen of the 243 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Striated Heron in Sydney?

December to April. In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Striated Heron in Sydney on a given day, against under 5% in May to November, the lowest months.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Striated Heron?

Between 7 and 10 am. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Striated Heron sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Sydney the best place to see a Striated Heron?

83rd of 146. Of the 146 cities where we can rate Striated Heron sightings, Sydney ranks 83rd at under 5%. The best odds are in Salvador (Brazil, about 60%), Antananarivo (Madagascar, about 50%) and Fortaleza (Brazil, about 50%).

Q: Which relatives of the Striated Heron live in Sydney?

Same family: Ardeidae. The closest relatives of the Striated Heron that you can see in Sydney (family Ardeidae, Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns) are White-faced Heron (about 30%), Great Egret (about 10%) and Ardea modesta (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Q: Where does the Striated Heron sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Striated Heron is recorded against all the birds logged in Sydney (876 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Butorides striata

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPelecaniformes (Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies)
FamilyArdeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GenusButorides (Green-backed Herons)
SpeciesButorides striata (Striated Heron)

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

at Sydney

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%

876 Verified sightings at Sydney

25,232 In all 108 parks From 2019 to 2026

February Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Striated Heron

The striated heron (Butorides striata) also known as mangrove heron or little green heron, is a small heron, about 44 cm tall. It is mostly sedentary and noted for some interesting behavioural traits. The breeding habitat is in South America and the Caribbean. The striated heron was formerly considered to be conspecific with the little heron that is found in the Old World tropics from west Africa to Japan and Australia.

The striated heron was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae. He placed it with the other herons in the genus Ardea and coined the binomial name Ardea striata. Linnaeus specified the locality as Suriname. The specific epithet is from Latin striatus meaning "striated". The striated heron is now one of four closely related species placed in the genus Butorides that was described in 1852 by the English zoologist Edward Blyth.

This bird was long considered to be conspecific with the closely related North American species, the green heron, which is now usually separated as Butorides virescens, as well as the lava heron of the Galápagos Islands (now Butorides sundevalli, but often included... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Flight call0:10

Colombia · 2022

Alarm call0:13

Brazil · 2025

Nocturnal flight call0:05

China · 2024

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 6 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	~70%
2	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~60%
3	Sundarbans National Park	🇮🇳 India	~60%
4	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~60%
5	Tanjung Puting National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~60%
6	Niokolo-Koba National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	~50%
7	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~50%
8	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~40%
9	Ankarafantsika National Park	🇲🇬 Madagascar	~40%
10	Iberá National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~40%
11	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~40%
12	Daintree National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~40%
13	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~40%
14	Bali Barat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~30%
15	Keoladeo National Park	🇮🇳 India	~30%
16	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~30%
17	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
18	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~30%
19	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~30%
20	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~30%
21	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~30%
22	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~30%
23	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
24	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~20%
25	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	~20%
26	Raja Ampat	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~20%
27	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
28	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
29	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~20%
30	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~20%
31	Ranthambore National Park	🇮🇳 India	~20%
32	Cape Range	🇦🇺 Australia	~20%
33	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~20%
34	Ningaloo Marine Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~20%
35	Chitwan National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	~20%
36	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	~20%
37	Tijuca National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
38	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	~10%
39	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
40	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
41	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
42	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
43	Semuliki National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
44	Utría National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
45	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
46	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~10%
47	Mantadia National Park	🇲🇬 Madagascar	~10%
48	Way Kambas National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~10%
49	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
50	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
51	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
52	Tangkoko Nature Reserve	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~10%
53	Yala National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~10%
54	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
55	Noosa National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
56	Kakadu National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
57	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
58	uMkhuze Game Reserve	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
59	Satpura National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
60	Khao Sok National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~10%
61	Bako National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~10%
62	Khao Yai National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~10%
63	Serra dos Órgãos National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
64	Manas National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
65	Wilpattu National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~10%
66	Sepilok	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~10%
67	Kaziranga National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
68	Iguaçu National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
69	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
70	Booderee National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
71	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
72	Royal Bardia National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	<5%
73	Periyar National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
74	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
75	Cat Tien National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	<5%
76	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
77	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	<5%
78	Isla del Coco National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
79	Komodo National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	<5%
80	Namdapha National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
81	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
82	Taman Negara National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	<5%
83	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
84	Royal Manas National Park	🇧🇹 Bhutan	<5%
85	Kaeng Krachan National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	<5%
86	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
87	Nagarhole National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
88	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
89	Jim Corbett National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
90	Doi Inthanon National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	<5%
91	Taroko National Park	🇹🇼 Taiwan	<5%
92	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
93	Cuc Phuong National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	<5%
94	Royal National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
95	Ranomafana National Park	🇲🇬 Madagascar	<5%
96	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
97	Minneriya National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	<5%
98	Khao Luang National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	<5%
99	Kanha National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
100	Danum Valley Conservation Area	🇲🇾 Malaysia	<5%
101	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
102	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
103	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
104	Bandhavgarh National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
105	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
106	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
107	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
108	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Salvador	🇧🇷 Brazil	~60%
2	Antananarivo	🇲🇬 Madagascar	~50%
3	Fortaleza	🇧🇷 Brazil	~50%
4	Denpasar	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~40%
5	Recife	🇧🇷 Brazil	~40%
6	Ouagadougou	🇧🇫 Burkina Faso	~40%
7	Jinhua	🇨🇳 China	~40%
8	Jakarta	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~40%
9	Makassar	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~40%
10	Zanzibar City	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Barcelona Zoo	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
2	Parque Zoobotânico Arruda Câmara (BICA)	🇧🇷 Brazil	In captivity
3	Aquarama Barcelona	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
4	L'Oceanogràfic	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
5	Mangal das Garças	🇧🇷 Brazil	In captivity
6	Cali Zoo	🇨🇴 Colombia	In captivity

Closest Relatives at Sydney

Egretta novaehollandiae

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Ardea alba

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Ardea modesta

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Egretta garzetta

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Egretta intermedia

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Nycticorax caledonicus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Ardea pacifica

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Egretta sacra

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Threskiornis molucca

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Pelecanus conspicillatus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Platalea regia

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Threskiornis spinicollis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Striated Heron in Sydney?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Striated Heron sighting in Sydney on a given day, based on 876 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 82nd most-seen of the 243 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Striated Heron in Sydney?

December to April

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Striated Heron in Sydney on a given day, against under 5% in May to November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Striated Heron?

Between 7 and 10 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Striated Heron sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Sydney the best place to see a Striated Heron?

83rd of 146

Of the 146 cities where we can rate Striated Heron sightings, Sydney ranks 83rd at under 5%. The best odds are in Salvador (Brazil, about 60%), Antananarivo (Madagascar, about 50%) and Fortaleza (Brazil, about 50%).

Which relatives of the Striated Heron live in Sydney?

Same family: Ardeidae

The closest relatives of the Striated Heron that you can see in Sydney (family Ardeidae, Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns) are White-faced Heron (about 30%), Great Egret (about 10%) and Ardea modesta (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Striated Heron sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Striated Heron is recorded against all the birds logged in Sydney (876 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Sydney

Striated Heron

About the Striated Heron

Sounds

Recent sightings of Striated Heron in Sydney

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Sydney

White-faced Heron

Great Egret

Ardea modesta

Little Egret

intermediate egret

Nankeen Night-Heron

White-necked Heron

Pacific Reef Heron

Australian White Ibis

Australian Pelican

Royal Spoonbill

Straw-necked Ibis

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Striated Heron in Sydney?

When is the best time to see a Striated Heron in Sydney?

What time of day is best to see a Striated Heron?

Is Sydney the best place to see a Striated Heron?

Which relatives of the Striated Heron live in Sydney?

Where does the Striated Heron sighting chance come from?