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Intermediate Egret

(Ardea intermedia)
Alternative names: "Plumed Egret", "White Crane"
Size: 55-70 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Little Egrets inhabit basically the north and the east of Australia, including Tasmania. They are not found in the arid interior of WA, the central and south-western NT and western SA. There are no Little Egrets along the south coast from about Perth to Adelaide either. In the semi-arid dry interior they are found mostly after substantial rainfall events.

Intermediate Egrets are found in the shallows of various kinds of freshwater wetlands and intertidal mudflats.

Sightings

Intermediate Egrets are found along waterways in many parts of Australia. We have seen them in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and in the Narrabri area, wherever there is water, swamp- or marshland.

Regular sightings in the Narrabri area, in particular after the significant rainfalls of May/June 2007 and again following rainfall in February 2008. Also seen at Narrabri Lake during the 2008/09 to 2010/11 breeding seasons.

Also sighted on a trip to the east of the dividing range, in the area from Armidale to Dorrigo and Clarence River downs (Iluka), NSW.

Want to see the Cattle Egret? Click here.

Photos

Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in full breeding plumage and colours

The same bird as shown above, slightly different posture

Here a bird seen hunting in a dried-up part of a lake

Intermediate Egret starting to moult into its breeding plumage

Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding plumage

Intermediate Egret in non-breeding plumage seen from behind

Same posture, different light conditions...

Intermediate Egret trying unsuccessfully to swallow a snake

Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in flight, with its necked kinked in the way typical of herons and egrets

Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight, with fully stretched neck

The same bird as shown above, now with full flaps for landing

Intermediate Egret in flight

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

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

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

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.

Nest

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

Eggs

Size: 47 x 34 mm Colour: Light blue Shape: Tapered oval

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

Food

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.