The Bare-throated Tiger Heron is a large, stocky, and often secretive wading bird native to the tropical and subtropical Americas. It favors forested wetland habitats, where its unique coloration allows it to blend seamlessly into the dense vegetation. This species is easily recognizable due to its namesake physical trait, which distinguishes it from other herons across its range.
Establishing Identity: Scientific Naming and Classification
The scientific name for this species is Tigrisoma mexicanum, formally described by William Swainson in 1834. The Bare-throated Tiger Heron belongs to the family Ardeidae, which encompasses all herons, egrets, and bitterns. The genus Tigrisoma groups it with other tiger herons, a distinct lineage adapted to forested existence. The species name mexicanum references Mexico, where the bird was originally described.
Distinguishing Physical Characteristics
The Bare-throated Tiger Heron is a large bird, typically measuring 70 to 80 centimeters (28 to 31 inches) in length and weighing over 1,000 grams (2.2 pounds). Adult plumage is highly cryptic, featuring a dark olive-brown back with fine buff vermiculation. The head has a black crown and nape, light grey sides, and a neck finely barred in brown and buff.
The most notable feature is the bare patch of skin on the throat, which gives the species its common name. This featherless skin is a distinctive greenish-yellow to orange hue in all plumages and contrasts with the blackish and buff-barred upperparts. Juvenile birds exhibit a different appearance, showing a buff coloration coarsely barred with black and more pronounced mottling across their wings.
Geographic Range and Foraging Behavior
The range of Tigrisoma mexicanum extends from Mexico, through Central America, and south into northwestern Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. This heron is primarily found in lowland areas, often below 1,000 meters in elevation. It prefers habitats associated with water and dense cover, such as coastal mangrove swamps, freshwater marshes, and forested banks along rivers and streams.
The species is known for its solitary foraging style, typically seen alone or in pairs near the water’s edge. It acts as a “sit-and-wait” predator, standing motionless in shallow water with its neck extended. The heron waits for prey, including fish, frogs, crabs, and large insects, to come within striking distance before delivering a quick thrust of its long bill. Foraging often peaks during dawn and dusk.