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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) |
SUBSECTIONS:
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
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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) |
Click here to display information on habitat,
range and finding this species
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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.
Click here to display more sighting
information
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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]
