Dwarf Blongios

The dwarf blongios ( Ixobrychus minutus ) or Butor blongios is a species of small Héron migrating nichor and which belongs to the family of the Ardéidé S.

Description

It is recognizable by its small size, equivalent to that of a Pigeon and to the yellow color straw which the top of its head raises whereas its back is black.

Male : cap and black back, great beige beach orange on the wings, belly and beige chest striated with brown orange. Cheeks blue gray, yellow nozzle with point noire.
Female : even reason that the male but in much duller

Population

It is increasingly rare. It is today a protected space at the European level, registered in appendix 1 of the European directive on the birds.

Europe counts between 40.000 and 100.000 couples nicheurs and the species is regarded as vulnerable and in strong decline.

In France, the species is regarded as in danger. The population of dwarf Blongios is there in strong decline, thus following the European general tendency. Thus, manpower was estimated at 2000 couples in 1968,453 couples in 1983 and 242 couples in 1997, with its more important core in the Camargue. Certain areas of France (Atlantic littoral, Picardy, Flanders) lost 80% their manpower during this period. However the species is extremely discrete and from many birds undoubtedly pass unperceived, in particular in the large not very accessible marshes, but also in the certain small wetlands where its presence is not required.

In Ile-de-France, the species is regarded as a very rare nichor, in regression since 1976. Reproductive manpower is estimated at a score of couples.

Habitat

Dwarf Blongios particularly appreciates the edges of ponds, the slow rivers and the marshes but also the sand pits, the large city parks or the basins laying-up.
The existence of dense roselières and wetlands are crucial factors for its presence.

Dwarf Blongios arrives to France at the neighborhoods of May and sets out again as of the month of August-September.

The zones of wintering seem located in East Africa where it arrives while following a way of Eastern migration (Italy, Eastern bank of the Mediterranean, Arabic Peninsula). The migration return seems more Western, but overall the migratory axes of this small héron are very badly known.

Food

Dwarf Blongios generally uses to be nourished perforated within the roselières as well as the banks of channels. The food mode is primarily based on watery insects, Batraciens and small fish.

Reproduction

The males are singers in June. Their song resembles a barking of dog far.

See too

departmental Park of Courneuve

Taxonomic references

External bonds

Distribution in France

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