The lava heron (Butorides sundevalli), also known as the Galápagos heron, is a small, dark endemic heron found exclusively along the rocky and sandy shorelines, mangroves, and tidal zones of the Galápagos Islands, where its sooty gray-blue plumage provides excellent camouflage against the archipelago's characteristic black volcanic lava rock. It is a patient, solitary hunter that stalks the shoreline with slow, deliberate movements or stands motionless for long periods before striking quickly to catch small fish, crabs, and other invertebrates in the intertidal zone, and is even known to use bait, such as small feathers or insects, to lure fish within striking range. Breeding pairs are territorial and typically nest low in mangroves or on rocky ledges near the water, laying two to three pale blue-green eggs in a simple stick platform nest. Closely related to (and sometimes considered a subspecies of) the striated heron, the lava heron is a year-round resident and does not migrate, remaining tied closely to its coastal habitat throughout its life. While not currently classified as threatened, its small and specialized population makes it vulnerable to coastal habitat disturbance, pollution, and the introduction of predators such as rats and cats that threaten ground-level and low nesting sites.B
