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White-faced Heron

(Ardea novaehollandiae)
Alternative names: "White-fronted Heron", "Blue Crane"
Aboriginal name: "budhuulgaa" [yuwaalaraay]
Size: 66-69 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

White-faced Herons are found over most of the Australian continent including Tasmania, with the exception of the most arid parts of the interior of the continent, i.e. the eastern half of WA and the Nullarbor. On the fringes of their range towards the arid interior they are present only when there is sufficient surface water, normally after major rainfall events.

White-faced Herons will check out any kind of wetland and aquatic habitat, from tidal flats on the coastline to decorative ponds in gardens. They can also be found on paddocks and in urban parks.

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.

Photos

Lateral view of a bird in breeding plumage (legs obscured)

Frontal view of a White-faced Heron in non-breeding plumage

Near-frontal view of a White-faced Heron in non-breeding plumage

Lateral view of a White-faced Heron in non-breeding plumage

The same bird as above, slightly different posture

This one is hunting in shallow water

Lateral view of a White-faced Heron in flight, with its neck almost straight

Here a bird in flight, with the typical folded neck and trailing legs

Portrait of a young bird that has no flight yet; at the time when the photo was taken this bird was about 35-40 cm tall

Here a near-frontal view of the same bird

Lateral view

Here seen from behind

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 bird 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

Food

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.