Agami heron

The agami heron was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with the herons and cranes in the genus Ardea and coined the binomial name Ardea agami.{{ cite book | last=Gmelin | first=Johann Friedrich | author-link=Johann Friedrich Gmelin| year=1789 | title=Systema naturae per regna tria naturae : secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis | edition=13th | volume=1, Part 2 | language=Latin | location=Lipsiae [Leipzig] | publisher=Georg. Emanuel. Beer | page=629 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2656122}} Gmelin based his description on the "Agami heron" from Cayenne that had been described in 1785 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his book A General Synopsis of Birds.{{ cite book | last=Latham | first=John | author-link=John Latham (ornithologist) | year=1785 | title=A General Synopsis of Birds | volume=3, Part 1 | publisher=Printed for Leigh and Sotheby | location=London | page=97 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40078856 }} Latham had in turn based his description on a specimen owned by the army officer Thamas Davies and the description and illustration of "Le Héron Agami" by the French polymath Comte de Buffon in his Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux.{{ cite book | last=Buffon | first=Georges-Louis Leclerc de | author-link=Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon | year=1780 | title=Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux | volume=7 | location=Paris | publisher=De l'Imprimerie Royale | page=382 | chapter=Le Héron Agami | language=French | chapter-url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1069720s/f448.item }}{{ cite book | last1=Buffon | first1=Georges-Louis Leclerc de | author1-link=Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon | last2=Martinet | first2=François-Nicolas | author2-link=François-Nicolas Martinet | last3=Daubenton | first3=Edme-Louis | author3-link=Edme-Louis Daubenton | last4=Daubenton | first4=Louis-Jean-Marie | author4-link=Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton | year=1765–1783 | chapter=Le Heron Agami de Cayenne | title=Planches Enluminées D'Histoire Naturelle | volume=9 | location=Paris | publisher=De L'Imprimerie Royale | at=Plate 859 | chapter-url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35224621 }} The agami heron is now the only species placed in the genus Agamia that was introduced in 1853 by the German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach.{{ cite book | last=Reichenbach | first=Ludwig | author-link=Ludwig Reichenbach | year=1853 | title=Handbuch der speciellen Ornithologie | language=German | location=Dresden und Leipzig | publisher=Expedition Vollständigsten Naturgeschichte | page=xvi | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47618646 }} For the publication date see: {{ cite book | last1=Dickinson | first1=E.C. | author1-link=Edward C. Dickinson | last2=Overstreet | first2=L.K. | last3=Dowsett | first3=R.J. | last4=Bruce | first4=M.D. | year=2011 | title=Priority! The Dating of Scientific Names in Ornithology: a Directory to the literature and its reviewers | location=Northampton, UK | publisher=Aves Press | isbn=978-0-9568611-1-5 | page=134 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267763194 }}{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=August 2022 | title=Ibis, spoonbills, herons, Hamerkop, Shoebill, pelicans | work=IOC World Bird List Version 12.2 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/pelicans/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=25 November 2022 }} The name agami is the word for Grey-winged trumpeter that's used by the indigenous people of French Guiana.{{cite book | last=Jobling | first=James A. | year=2010| title=The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | publisher=Christopher Helm | location=London | isbn=978-1-4081-2501-4 | page=35 | url=https://archive.org/stream/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling#page/n35/mode/1up }} The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.

File:Agami Heron, Vaca Díez, BO-EB, BO imported from iNaturalist photo 184748542.jpg

This uncommon species is {{convert|66-76|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=off}} in length. It is short-legged for a heron, and has a thin bill which is considerably longer than the head. The neck and underparts are chestnut, with a white line down the centre of the foreneck, and the wings are shiny green. Wispy pale blue feathers decorate the crown, sides of the foreneck, and lower back. The legs, bill, and bare facial patch are dull yellow. During the breeding season the facial patch can change color to reddish. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are largely brown above with a white foreneck, and streaked brown-and-white underparts. The normal clutch size is two blue eggs.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

The species has a 15 cm long bill, which has been described as extremely long, allowing it to strike prey from greater distances from its body than similarly sized heron species sporting shorter bills.

File:Agami heron (Agamia agami) juvenile.jpg

The agami heron is a Neotropical species occurring in Central and South America. The distribution area of the species extends from south-east Mexico through central and Caribbean Central America through the Amazon basin in South America, covering the following countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil.

This species is rare in open areas. The agami heron's habitat encompasses swamp forests, mangroves, forest streams and freshwater wetlands. They mostly occur at elevations between sea level and {{convert|300|m|ft|sigfig=1|abbr=off}}, although records exist from as elevations as high as {{convert|2600|m|ft|sigfig=2|abbr=off}} in the Andes. They nest in both single species and mixed species colonies on platforms of sticks in bushes and trees over water. Very few colonies are known to date but some are quite large, up to hundreds or even over a thousand nests.{{Cite journal|last1=Reynaud|first1=P.A.|last2=Kushlan|first2=J.A.|year=2004|title=Nesting of the Agami Heron|url=http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1675/063.039.0209|journal=Waterbirds|volume=27|issue=3|pages=308–311|via=BioOne|doi=10.1675/1524-4695(2004)027[0308:notah]2.0.co;2}} The following locations of colonies are known within the distribution area of the species:on a tiny island at the centre of a lagoon in the middle of the [http://www.pacuarereserve.org Pacuare Nature Reserve], Costa Rica, in the [https://www.tapichejungle.com/ Tapiche Reserve], Peru, the Marais de Kaw-Roura National Reserve and [http://parc-amazonien-guyane.fr/ Amazonian National Park], French Guiana, and other colonies outside of protected areas in Colombia, Mexico and Belize.{{Cite web|url=http://www.heronconservation.org/working-groups/agami-heron-working-group/|title=agami heron working group|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}

File:agamiachicks leofleck.jpg

Despite its stunning plumage, this reclusive species' preference for shade and overhanging vegetation means that it is rarely seen. This is a quiet bird, but pairs and family groups may make various snoring or rattling sounds. Rattling sounds and slow walking away are a typical response to disturbance.{{Cite journal|last=Kushlan|first=J.A.|year=2016|title=Behavior of the Agami Heron (Agamia agami)|journal=Waterbirds|volume=39|issue=2|pages=187–192|doi=10.1675/063.039.0209|doi-access=free}}

Agami herons stalk their prey (fish, frogs, small reptiles, and snails) in shallow shaded water in forested areas. They often stand still on perches or directly in the water, or moving very slowly. They rarely wade in open water. At Cocha Cashu, a 1985 study found that 52% of their prey during the late dry season consisted of characids, particularly Triportheus angulatus and Astyanax sp., which are surface-swimming fishes. Prey mostly measured 2-10 cm in length. Less commonly, they have also been known to consume cichlids (Aequidens).{{Cite journal |last=Willard |first=David E. |date=1985 |title=Comparative Feeding Ecology of Twenty-Two Tropical Piscivores |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40168316 |journal=Ornithological Monographs |issue=36 |pages=788–797 |doi=10.2307/40168316 |jstor=40168316 |issn=0078-6594}}{{cite web | url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Agamia_agami/ | title=Agamia agami (Agami) | website=Animal Diversity Web }}

Several courtship behaviors have been described and are used by both sexes. Lores can change color to an intense red, and both sexes show a short-lived silver crest.

This species is very discreet and scientifically little known, which is a challenge for conservationists. Its remote habitat and secretive behavior may explain its apparent rarity. However, it is considered as near threatened by the IUCN Red List due to future habitat loss in the Amazon. Conservation efforts should concentrate on protection of important colony sites, developing a better understanding of the range, habitat needs and biology of the species.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170118051028/http://www.lifecapdom.org/IMG/pdf/20150724_planconservation_ha_eng_web.pdf Agami Heron Conservation Plan (Agamia agami).] Stier, A. and Kushlan, J., 2015 (compilers). Managing editor: Benoit Hurpeau, President, GEPOG Association, 15 Avenue Pasteur, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana.
• Birds of Venezuela by Hilty, {{ISBN|0-7136-6418-5}}
• Birds of Northern South America. An identification guide by Robin Restall, Clemencia Rodner and Miguel Lentino. Yale University Press:
• Vol 1. Species accounts.{{ISBN|978-0-300-10862-0}}
• Vol 2. Plates and maps. {{ISBN|978-0-300-12415-6}}

• [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=313 Agami heron videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20020105091317/http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/2003600.htm Stamps]}} (for Suriname) with RangeMap
• [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=agami+heron&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Agami heron photo gallery] VIREO
• [http://ambergriscaye.com/birds/agamiheron.html "The Agami Heron" article & Photo--Medium Res]—"Birds-Belize"

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agami heron

Category:Birds of Central America

Category:Birds of the Amazon rainforest

Category:Birds of South America

Category:Birds of the Guiana Shield

Category:Birds of the Pantanal

Category:Birds of Trinidad and Tobago

Category:Birds of Brazil

agami heron

agami heron