Rufescent Tiger-Heron Gallery

Tigrisoma lineatum

The Birds of the World website offers these introductory words about the Rufescent Tiger-Heron:  Though diligent and quiet, observers may encounter this reclusive heron standing still along sluggish streams and backwater swamps. The Rufescent Tiger-Heron generally is the least-frequently encountered of the three species of Tigrisoma, and is considered uncommon to rare through much of its range.  However, towards the southern end of its range, where it becomes the only Tiger-Heron present, they become more common and easier to see.  Found in lowlands from southern Mexico south to northern Argentina, adult Rufescent Tiger-Herons are easily separated from the other species of tiger-heron by their rich rufous upperparts, especially the head and neck. Generally, immature tiger-herons are best left unidentified. With some practice, however, immature Rufescent Tiger-Herons may be identified by their more rufous head and neck. The shorter and stouter bill may also be a useful field mark, though this requires prior experience with all three species. Habitat is one of the best clues to identification; the species most similar to Rufescent, the Fasciated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma fasciatum, usually is found on larger, faster-flowing streams and riverbanks, and primarily occurs at higher elevations.

I saw and photographed my first The Rufescent Tiger-Heron on the morning of August 19, 2023 in the Amazon Basin Region of Brazil.  Our small group with Jeff Parker Tours was at Southwild’s Fazenda São Nicolau located on the Juruena River west of Alta Floresta.  That morning we were up early for a boat ride on the river when we spotted a beautiful juvenile Rufescent Tiger-Heron perched near the river .  For a more detailed description of the trip that included my sighting of this bird look at this blog post.  Here are some of my photos of this unique bird. 

I met my first adult Rufescent Heron on the morning of Tuesday, August 23, 2023.  Our Jeff Parker Tour group was staying at Southwild’s Santa Tereza Lodge and I watched this bird from a boat on the Rio Sararé which is near the lodge.  Below is a photo of the adult Rufescent Heron I watched that day–  what a beautiful bird!