Capped Heron

*Top 50 Target Species

The Capped Heron is a striking and little-known species found in Ecuador’s Amazonian lowlands, where it frequents quiet forest streams, oxbow lakes, and swampy margins. Distinguished by its powder-blue face, black crown, and creamy plumage, it is active during daylight and twilight—unlike most herons—and feeds on small fish and aquatic invertebrates with slow, deliberate movements. Globally listed as Least Concern, its population is suspected to be declining due to habitat degradation, though it remains locally present in intact riparian zones like Yasuní and Cuyabeno. Despite its broad Neotropical range, the Capped Heron’s secretive habits and preference for dense, shaded waterways make it one of the least observed herons in Ecuador.