White-faced Heron

The White-faced Heron, Egretta novaehollandiae, is a bird photographer’s delight: they’re large, slow moving, often approachable and frequently in contrast with their background. Many bird watchers describe them as elegant or smart-looking.

Their slow, bouncy flight with trailing yellow legs is diagnostic. White-faced Herons make a gravelly, croaking call.

The White-faced Heron is widespread and occupies a variety of habitats including wetlands, mudflats, dams in paddocks, saltmarsh, urban parks, backyard fish ponds, etc. It searches for its prey of fish, frogs, crustaceans, insects, etc. by standing still and watching, wading slowly or foot raking.

Egretta novaehollandiae  builds a stick nest high in a tree, usually near a water body. In the breeding season, nuptial plumage on the head, neck and back becomes very obvious.