Lava Heron in Galápagos: Facts and Where to See It

The lava heron is uniform grey with a short crest, colouring that works as camouflage on the grey basalt of the shore. Males are slightly larger than females, and young birds are brown and streaky.

• Breeding colours. In the breeding season the legs turn from dull grey to bright orange, and the male's bill from grey to black.
• Fast hunter. It stalks slowly, then stabs with its sharp bill, and has been recorded catching two to three crabs a minute.
• Nesting after rain. Pairs breed all year, most often after heavy rain, building a nest together in bushes or mangroves in the male's territory.

Lava herons live and nest along lava coastlines, saltwater lagoons and mangrove forests on all the islands, feeding in the shore zone on small fish and crabs. They seem common, though nobody knows how many there are.

Pairs tend to stay together. They build the nest jointly, off the ground in a bush or mangrove inside the male's territory, lay one to three eggs at a time, and may raise up to three broods a year. Because they nest in every month, often right after heavy rain, a visitor may see courting birds with orange legs at any time of year.

The guide sighting records note lava herons around tide pools across the archipelago, rated Possible almost anywhere on the shore. Of the 4 sites listed by name, Darwin Bay on Genovesa is rated Likely, Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz and Mosquera Islet Possible, and Elizabeth Bay on Isabela Rare.

Lava herons nest all year round, so any month works. In the next twelve months, 635 departures stop at a site where they are seen.

No, it is listed as Least Concern. Adults have few natural enemies, though introduced cats are a possible threat; rats and pigs eat eggs and chicks. Invasive species are controlled continuously. Park rules keep visitors at least 2 metres (6 feet) from wildlife, which on rocky shores means watching where you step.

1. Looking for a big heron. It is small, about 35 cm, and grey like the rock.
2. Walking fast along the shore. Scan the tide pools slowly.
3. Expecting orange legs every time. They show only in the breeding season.