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Intermediate EgretAlternative names: "Plumed Egret", "White Crane*" Size: 55-70 cm; wing span 1.05-1.2 m Weight: 400 g (average) |
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Similar species |
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SUBSECTIONS:
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
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Taxonomy, classification |
See Intermediate Egret
at Wikipedia 
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Click here to display information on habitat,
range and finding this species
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Sightings |
Intermediate Egrets are found along waterways in many parts of Australia.
Click here to display more sighting
information
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Photos |
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.
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in full breeding plumage
and colours
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]
The same bird as shown above, slightly different posture
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]
Intermediate Egret seen hunting in a dried-up part of a lake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]
Dorsal view of an Intermediate Egret starting to moult into its
breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2009]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Dorsal view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight,
with its neck kinked in the way typical of herons and egrets; here the
wings are down
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight,
with its neck kinked in the way typical of herons and egrets, now with
the wings in the "up" phase
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding plumage in
flight, with fully stretched neck
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2011]
The same Intermediate Egret as shown above, now with full flaps for landing
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2011]
Intermediate Egret in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2010]
Here a direct comparison of an Intermediate Egret in flight
(back right) with a
Great Egret
in the foreground; the main distinction between the
two is in the lores, which extend to behind the eye for the
Great
Egret, but not for the Intermediate Egret
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2010]
This photo allows a comparison of the relative sizes of a Cattle Egret (centre), a Great Egret (left) and an Intermediate
Egret (right); all of them are searching for nesting material under a
tree after a violent storm
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Most of the birds shown here will probably be Intermediate Egrets;
this photo gives an impression of how many egrets a single lake such
as Narrabri Lake can support in a breeding
season; obviously this flock is only part of the local population
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2011]
Lateral view of a (probably young) Intermediate Egret
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2012]
Near-dorsal view of a (probably young) Intermediate Egret
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2012]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Oct - Jan | Eggs: 3 - 4 | Incubation period: 25 days | Fledging age: 63 - 70 days |
The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Intermediate Egrets breed Dec - Mar. Given the right conditions, Intermediate Egrets can breed any time of the year. They breed in colonies, together with other aquatic birds.
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "malunna" = Nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Basket | Material: Sticks, lined with leaves | Height above ground: 5 - 20 m |
Seen nesting, together with other aquatic birds, along the shores of Narrabri Lake during the breeding season of 2008 and subsequent years.
Intermediate Egrets in their nest
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "nooluk" "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal] |
| Size: 47 x 34 mm | Colour: Light blue | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Partly migratory/ dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair/flock |
Intermediate Egrets often accompany cattle on paddocks in the hope of picking up disturbed animals (see photo). Note that the birds shown below are not Cattle Egrets.
Intermediate Egrets waiting for the bull to disturb some
delicacy hiding in the long grass
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Food, Diet |
All egrets and herons prey on aquatic creatures in fresh water or estuaries (fish, frogs, snakes or crustaceans). Intermediate Egrets will take any of those.
Intermediate Egrets with a frog it has just caught high up in a
tree standing on the edge of a lake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]
Intermediate Egret trying unsuccessfully to swallow a snake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]
This Intermediate Egret has caught a fish (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
