White-bellied Heron

Scientific Name: Ardea insignis

Common Name: Pho Bap (Dzongkha)

Individuals sighted in Bhutan (2026) 31

Population trend Stable / Increasing

CR IUCN Red List category Critically Endangered

Global Population

Less than 60 individuals

Diet

Fish, frogs, crustaceans and other aquatic prey

Habitat

Undisturbed riverine and wetland habitats in subtropical and temperate forests

Distribution range

Bhutan, northeast India, and possibly Myanmar

Extent of occurrence

339,000 km²

Migratory status

Resident / partially migratory

Breeding endemic

Yes (Bhutan)

IBAs/KBAs identified

The White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis), also known as the Imperial Heron, is one of the rarest and most critically endangered herons in the world. With a global population estimated at fewer than 60 individuals, it stands on the brink of extinction. Bhutan harbours one of the last viable populations of this species, making the country's conservation efforts crucial for its survival.

Standing nearly a metre tall, the White-bellied Heron is a large, grey heron distinguished by its white underparts, streaked neck, and stately posture. It inhabits undisturbed, pristine river systems and wetland habitats in the subtropical and temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas.

RSPN has been monitoring and conserving the White-bellied Heron in Bhutan since 2009, conducting annual population surveys, habitat assessments, and community awareness programmes across known heron habitats in the country.

Did you know?

Bhutan is home to 45% of global WBH population.

There is less than five known actively breeding WBH pairs in the world.

WBH is found in Bhutan, India and Mynmar - endemic to Himalayan foothills.

First WBH nest in Bhutan was discovered in 2003 - it was also rediscovery for the world after more than seven decades of previous record.

Fewer than 60 WBH are left in the world.

WBH is World’s Rarest Heron - Guinness Book of World Records, 2013.

Physical Description

The White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis Hume, 1878) belongs to the family Ardeidae, order Pelecaniformes, and is found in freshwater ecosystems of the Himalayas. The species had a rather chequered nomenclatural history, having been linked with the specific names fusca, insignis and nobilis (Blyth 1844, Gray 1844, Gray and Gray 1846, Stray Feathers 6 [1878]: 470–472) as well as imperialis. Although insignis gained general acceptance, E. C. S. Baker (Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 49 [1928]: 40) later argued that its use was invalid (a nomen nudum) and renamed the species Ardea imperialis. However, it was later described by A. O. Hume in 1878 (Stray Feathers 6:470) as Ardea insignis (Sibley & Monroe 1990) and the accepted name now is Ardea insignis, the White-bellied Heron.

The White-bellied Heron (WBH) is a large water bird with long neck and leg, found along the open banks of freshwater river systems in the inner Himalayas. Its body is dark greyish with contrasting white throat, belly and vent, and white-streaked scapulars, fore neck and upper breast. Both males and females have two lace-like white plumes on the nape. During breeding seasons, plumage turns light grey with a whitish neck and crest. Juveniles appear darker than adults with more streaked on the neck, browner-tinged vent and smaller plume. It has a long and sharply pointed black bill with a serrated inside. The chin and lower mandible are whitish undersides while the upper mandible is black.

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Ardea

Common Name

English	Dzongkha	Lhotshamkha	Khengkha	Tshangla	Kurtoep/Dzalakha
White-bellied Heron	Chubja Phowkarp/Bja Eako Raem	Saray Haas, Raja Haas	Woong Rila	Ngangkha	Ngäp Bja

Distribution

Global Distribution

Historically, the bird occupied a large area of the Himalayan foothills, from the plains of Nepal, across northern India including Sikkim, Darjeeling, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal, and Nagaland, and Bhutan to southern Myanmar bordering with Thailand. During the second and third quarters of the 20th century, the species was extirpated from most of its historical range, restricting itself to Bhutan, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and northern Myanmar. The bird has been declared extinct from Nepal, and there are no recent records from West Bengal, southern Myanmar, and Bangladesh, suggesting that the overall range has contracted substantially. There are few records of observation from southern China.

Distribution in Bhutan

In Bhutan, WBH is distributed in temperate and mixed-broadleaf forests of major river basins: Punatsangchhu, Mangdechhu, and Wangchhu basin, at an altitudinal range of 100–1800 m. An optimistic habitat suitability model (Fig.1.2) predicts that only 3891.06 km2(10.13 %) of total area in Bhutan is highly suitable for WBH, an additional 5747.97 km2 (14.97 %) is suitable, and 93.83 km2 (0.24 %) is least suitable. The remaining 74.65 % (28661.12 km2) is not suitable, which comprises areas that fall above an altitude of 2000 m, near the settlement, built-ups, agricultural land and rocky outcrops. The total population in Bhutan is estimated to be between 14 to 30 individuals based on annual simultaneous surveys from 2003 to 2025. In 2025, the annual population count recorded 29 individuals of WBH in Bhutan. Annually, one to five active nests have been recorded from 2003 to 2025 in Bhutan.

Threats

Habitat Loss & Degradation

Riparian forest loss, agriculture, and settlement along riverbanks reduce critical nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat corridors.

Riparian forest clearance
Loss of nesting trees
Riverbank settlement
Agricultural expansion
Habitat corridor fragmentation
Reduced foraging areas

Hydropower Development

Dams and associated infrastructure alter river flow, affect fish availability, and physically disturb breeding and feeding sites.

Altered river flow regimes
Disrupted fish populations
Disturbance near nest sites
Transmission line impacts
Construction pressure
Reduced river connectivity

Disturbance & Climate Stress

Fishing, extraction, increased human presence, changing rainfall, and extreme floods can trigger nest abandonment and breeding failure.

Fishing near breeding sites
Sand and timber extraction
Nest abandonment risk
Low-intensity tourism pressure
Extreme flood events
Changing river hydrology

Conservation Initiatives

RSPN has led conservation efforts for the White-bellied Heron in Bhutan since 2009. The programme combines systematic monitoring, habitat protection, community engagement, and policy advocacy to safeguard the remaining population.

Population Monitoring

Annual systematic surveys are conducted across known and potential heron habitats throughout Bhutan. Survey data are used to track population trends, identify key breeding sites, and inform conservation planning. The most recent surveys recorded 31 individuals in Bhutan in 2026.

Nest Site Protection

Known nest sites are monitored closely during the breeding season (February–May). Buffer zones around active nests are established in coordination with local communities and relevant government agencies to minimise disturbance during critical periods.

Community Engagement

RSPN works closely with local communities residing near heron habitats to build conservation awareness and develop sustainable livelihood alternatives that reduce pressure on river systems. Local community members are trained as conservation volunteers and monitors.

Research and Documentation

Ongoing research on the species' ecology, breeding biology, habitat requirements, and threats informs evidence-based management. RSPN collaborates with international partners, including BirdLife International and the IUCN Heron Specialist Group, to contribute to global conservation knowledge.

White-bellied Heron population count graphic

Related Project

Project Title	Project Sites	Project Goal	Project Timeline	Project Donor	Project Activities
Assessing and mapping new potential habitat of White-bellied Heron in the Jomori river basin in eastern Bhutan	Jomori River basin, Jomotsangkha	To safeguard the critically endangered bird White-bellied Heron	2024-2025	ASAP and Global Wildlife Fund	Conduct survey to explore the habitat suitability for White-bellied Heron Carried out threat assessment Advocated and educated to communities for the conservation of White-bellied heron
Developing Ecosystem-based solutions for Managing Biodiversity Landscapes in Bhutan	Punakha, Tsirang, Wangdue, Zhemgang, Trongsa, Dagana	Develop ecosystem-based solutions for managing biodiversity landscapes, with special objective to establish approaches and tools for protecting and managing WBH habitats	2021-2026	Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), Germany	Ecosystem-based biodiversity survey and community engagement strategies for WBH conservation based on ESRAM approach, designed and applied. Degraded and new potential WBH habitats rehabilitated and created (feeding, roosting and nesting). Capacity of all stakeholders on planning and implementation of ESRAM study, ecosystem-based adaptation and livelihood options strengthened. Ecosystem-based adaptation livelihood options in the WBH habitat areas, applied and established. 5.Knowledge based on ecosystem-based biodiversity conservation, WBH habitat &population and climate adaptation, established and disseminated.