Scientists in Costa Rica have documented the first known record of a bare-throated tiger heron killing and consuming another bird.
This stocky neotropical heron is known for its finely barred plumage and enigmatic behaviour, often remaining completely still for long periods along water edges, waiting for unsuspecting prey to pass by, before striking.
It has a broad diet, consisting mostly of fish and large invertebrates. There have also been reports of the bird consuming amphibians, small rodents, lizards, crocodiles and snakes, including the predation of a yellow-bellied sea snake, as well as a green ratsnake.
Now, in a new study published in the journal Wetlands, researchers detail a predation event at an artificial water reservoir in the Costa Rican city of Liberia involving a bare-throated tiger heron (Tigrisoma mexicanum) repeatedly immersing a great kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) – a type of flycatcher – before eating it.
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The research team, led by José Manuel Mora, says that “on at least three occasions the heron dunked the prey in the water prior to ingestion, one for approximately 16 seconds, then retrieved it and held it in its bill, after which it again shook the flycatcher several times. Following these repeated handling behaviours, the prey had lost several feathers, mainly from the neck and chest.”
The observation suggests that, if conditions allow, bare-throated tiger-herons may opportunistically exploit semi-terrestrial and even terrestrial prey, such as birds.
“This record expands the known dietary breadth and behavioural repertoire of T. mexicanum and underscores the importance of detailed natural history observations for documenting rare or overlooked ecological interactions,” say the researchers.
Find out more about the study.
Top image: Bare-throated tiger-heron (Tigrisoma mexicanum) holding a great kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) at Campus Liberia, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Credit: José Manuel Mora et al. Waterbirds 2026
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