Brazilian name: socó-boi
The Rufescent Tiger-heron is found from Honduras in Central America to northern Argentina. It tends to hide in the undergrowth on the banks of rivers during the day being mainly crepuscular in its habits. It captures prey using the technique known as "Standing Still". Photo 3 shows a typical hunting stance.
The immature is very different with broad black barring on a browny-buff base. Sick says that it takes 2 years to reach adult plumage while Hilty & Brown say that this can take about 5 years. Photo 4 shows a young juvenile while photo 5 shows an older juvenile.
There are illustrations in Hilty & Brown, Plate 2; HBW, Volume 1, Pages 393 and 418; and Sick, Plate
3.
The Brazilian name translates as "cow heron" and reflects the
mooing sound of the birds call. There are recordings and a distribution
map on xeno-canto .
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