The Goliath heron (Ardea goliath), also known as the giant heron, is the world's largest heron. The standing height averages over 1.4 m (4.5 ft), with a wingspan of at least 7 ft (2 m) and a weight of about 4 kg (9 lb). It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller numbers in Southwest and South Asia. The Goliath heron is very aquatic, even by heron standards, rarely venturing far from a water source and preferring to fly along waterways rather than move over land. It feeds on fish, frogs, small mammals and insects, spearing prey with open mandibles.
