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White-faced HeronAlternative names: "White-fronted Heron", "Blue Crane" (misnomer) Aboriginal name: "budhuulgaa" [yuwaalaraay] Size: 66-69 cm Weight: 550 g (average) |
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SUBSECTIONS:
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Taxonomy, classification |
See White-faced Heron
at Wikipedia
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
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Sightings |
As is the case also for White-necked Herons, there is no need to go far for seeing a White-faced Heron; there are plenty along water edges almost all through the Australian continent, both inland and along the seashores. They can hunt in groups or solitary.
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Photos |
Frontal view of a White-faced Heron in breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]
Frontal view of a White-faced Heron in breeding plumage inspecting a pond
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]
Lateral view of a White-faced Heron in breeding plumage inspecting a pond
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2012]
Lateral view of a White-faced Heron in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
White-faced Heron, different posture (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
Dorsal view of a White-faced Heron in breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]
Frontal view of a White-faced Heron in non-breeding plumage
[Whittaker's Lagoon, near Moree, NSW, June 2012]
Near-frontal view of a White-faced Heron in non-breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2009]
Lateral view of a White-faced Heron in non-breeding plumage
[Near Hat Head, NSW, January 2011]
The same White-faced Heron as above, slightly different posture
[Near Hat Head, NSW, January 2011]
White-faced Heron hunting in shallow water
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2011]
White-faced Heron in a mangrove marsh
[Urunga Heads, NSW, February 2012]
White-faced Heron taking off from its perch
[Whittaker's Lagoon, near Moree, NSW, June 2012]
Lateral view of a White-faced Heron in flight, with its neck almost straight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2011]
Here a White-faced Heron in flight, with the typical folded neck and
trailing legs
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2008]
Portrait of a young White-faced Heron that has no flight yet; at the time when
the photo was taken this bird was about 35-40 cm tall
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2011]
Near-frontal view of the same White-faced Heron
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2011]
Lateral view of the same White-faced Heron
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2011]
Here seen from behind
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2011]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Sep - Jan | Eggs: 3 - 5 | Incubation period: 21 - 24 days | Fledging age: 40 - 45 days |
White-faced Herons are usually solitary breeders, rarely in loose, small colonies. The breeding season of White-faced Herons can be longer, inland especially when there is plenty of water (and thereby prey).
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "malunna" = Nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Basket | Material: Sticks | Height above ground: 10 - 25 m |
Adult White-faced Heron on its nest (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
The same White-faced Heron nest as above, now with juveniles
in it (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "nooluk" "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal] |
| Size: 47 x 34 mm | Colour: White | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
A peculiarity observed by us is that White-faced Heron are sometimes sticking around a kangaroo carcass, e.g. by a roadside. If not scavenging, the only other possibility is that they are looking for maggots to pick off the carcass.
This White-faced Heron was waiting for the annoying car to pass before
getting back to a kangaroo carcass in the ditch; the bird was
seen at this spot consistently for weeks
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2011]
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Food, Diet |
All egrets and herons prey on aquatic creatures in fresh water or estuaries (fish, frogs, snakes or crustaceans). We are not aware of any specialisation of White-faced Herons.
This White-faced Heron was apparently using Soldier Crabs to flush prey
- it put up with being nipped on the feet at times, but did not seem to
take any of the crabs (photo courtesy of C. Charles)
[Narooma, May 2013]































