Goliath Heron

Ardea goliath

Other Pics: Goliath in Flight , Goliath Close-up

Other Names

    Héron goliath   Goliathreiher   Garza Goliat   Goliathäger   Goliathreiger, Reuzenreiger   Airone gigante

World: Senegal in W. Africa, eastern and southern Africa. South-west Asia. Occasionally in India and Ceylon

Kenya: Almost totally absent from the North-East of Kenya. Elsewhere generally found around the larger lakes and permanent swamps throughout Kenya, as well as along rivers (particularly the Tana)

An unmistakable Heron - with an overall length of between 4 to 5 feet this really is a huge bird! In flight it has a slow and rather ponderous look and, unlike some other herons, its legs are not held horizontally (see the picture above). The only similar species is the purple heron, which is much smaller. Breeds at lakes Baringo and Naivasha and also the Mara River. One of the best place to see it is probably Lake Baringo where they can regularly be seen fishing around the Lake Shores