The Rufescent Tiger Heron tigrisoma lineatum, is one of the three species from the Tigrisoma genus of South America.
Its common name indicates the rufous head, neck and breast while the latin special element describes the white markings on the throat.
This individual was seen in Buenos Aires, at the southern extreme of its range and thus, for those who would have them split, is the T.l. marmoratum race. The nominate is found to the north, as far as southern Central America.
Sexes are alike, but juveniles carry a cryptic, striped plumage (shared with the juvenile Fasciated and Bare-throated Tiger Herons) which conforms even more closely to the “tiger-bodied” translation of the generic name.
Redgannet worked for more than 35 years as a flight attendant for an international airline. He came to birding late in his career but, considering the distractions, doesn't regret the missed opportunities. He was paid to visit six continents and took full advantage of the chance to bird the world. He adopted the nom de blog, Redgannet, to avoid remonstrations from his overbearing employer, but secretly hoped that the air of mystery would make him more attractive to women. Now grounded, he is looking forward to seeing the seasons turn from a fixed point.
Great photos of a great bird! Boddaert’s choice of the specific epithet “lineatum” was based on the upperparts pattern of the juvenile, not on the throat pattern of the adult. Here is the “type”: http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/109420#page/127/mode/1up .
What a beauty. Quite reminiscent of the Old-World Squacco Herons for those yet uninitiated to the avifauna of the Neotropics.