Endemic to the Galápagos Islands, this small heron lives on rocky shores, in mangroves, and at salt lagoons. Plumage varies, and bill and leg colors change with season.
It is described as the smallest heron in the Galápagos and has a short crest. Plumage ranges from slate grey to blackish, sometimes with a silvery sheen on the back. Bill and leg colors vary by season.
It lives on rocky shores, in mangroves, and at salt lagoons. It breeds throughout the year, especially after heavy rain. Both parents build a nest in bushes or mangroves, and the usual clutch is one to three eggs.
During breeding, the bill turns black and the legs become bright orange; both fade to grey afterward. Juveniles have brown, streaked plumage.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.