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White-necked HeronAlternative names: "Pacific Heron", "White-necked Crane" (misnomer) Aboriginal name: "boonabaroo" Size: 0.75 - 1.05 m Weight: 900 g (average) |
SUBSECTIONS:
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
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Taxonomy, classification |
See White-necked 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 |
White-necked Herons are seen by us regularly in inland NSW around both natural waters and artificial structures, such as dams.
Click here to display more sighting
information
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Photos |
Frontal view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]
Near-lateral view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage
checking out an ornamental pond
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]
Lateral view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, April 2011]
White-necked Heron launching itself off a dead branch
White-necked Heron gaining height
Soaring White-necked Heron seen from below
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]
A whole array of aquatic birds hunting/foraging:
three White-necked
Herons (of which two, on the left and right, are in non-breeding
plumage while the one near the centre is an immature bird),
two Australian White
Ibis in breeding plumage,
two Great Egrets,
one Purple Swamphen,
one Dusky Moorhen
and two Pacific Black
Ducks
[O'Brien's Creek, Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2011]
Frontal view of a sub-adult White-necked Heron, with remnant
spots of its juvenile plumage (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Glen Iris wetlands, Melbourne, VIC, March 2013]
Frontal view of an immature White-necked Heron moulting into
adult plumage (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Whittaker's Lagoon, near Moree, NSW, June 2012]
Near-frontal view of an immature White-necked Heron moulting into
adult plumage
[Whittaker's Lagoon, near Moree, NSW, June 2012]
Lateral view of an immature White-necked Heron
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2010]
Lateral view of an immature White-necked Heron in aquatic vegetation
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Frontal view of a young immature White-necked Heron
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, May 2012]
Different lateral view of a young immature White-necked Heron
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2012]
Dorsal view of a young immature White-necked Heron
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2012]
Most of the time the life of an immature White-necked Heron is
quiet and peaceful, but then suddenly one gets swooped by a
Caspian Tern!
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2012]
Lateral view of an immature White-necked Heron in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2010]
Lateral view of an immature White-necked Heron in flight
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2012]
Young immature White-necked Heron in a creek
[Near Narrabri, NSW, April 2009]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Sep - Jan | Eggs: 4 | Incubation period: ca. 30 days | Fledging age: 42 - 49 days |
White-necked Herons are colonial breeders. The breeding season of White-necked 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 |
Close-up view of a White-necked Heron nest with two downy chicks
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Zoom-in on the chicks; this photo also demonstrates that the
nest is quite shallow (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Nest with four juveniles in it (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Only one fledgling is left in this nest; this bird is ready
to leave the nest very soon (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "nooluk" "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 52 x 38 mm | Colour: White | Shape: Tapered oval |
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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-necked Herons.
White-necked Heron with small prey, a tiny frog
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]
