Pacific Reef Heron
Pacific Reef Heron
Pale Morph
60-70 cm; span c. 95 cm. Workman-like beach and reef-dwelling heron, with long robust bill (for a heron) and fairly short legs. Two colour-morphs. White morph: bill yellowish grey or horn-coloured; legs dull yellow-grey. Juvenile similar. White morph predominates in tropics, but in NSW, SA and s. WA, birds are mostly grey. Breeding Plumage(both morphs): longer plumes on nape (forming small crest), back and breast. Singles, family groups, small colonies: stoops, crouches, wings part-spread in canopy over water; stirs with foot; chases prey or jabs at it while flying. Flight direct and low, wingbeats rather rapid; feet protrude just beyond tail tip.
islands, rocky shores, exposed coral reefs, beaches, tidal rivers, inlets, mangroves.
Dark Morph
60-70 cm; span 90 cm-1 m. Uniform dark grey, with small, white streak on throat. Bill long, grey-horn; legs grey, washed yellow. Immature: browner grey. Breeding Plumage: longer grey plumes on nape (forming small crest), back and breast. See Eastern Reef Egret, white morph, for other details.
- Other name
- Reef Heron, Pacific Reef Egret.
- Similar Species
- (white morph); all egrets are more slender, with finer bills and longer legs; generally more gracefully proportioned. Away from nest colonies, most have either yellow or black bills, or black-tipped, yellow bills.
- Voice
- hoarse croaks.
- Breeding
- mostly Sept.-Feb.
- Nest
- untidy structure of sticks; in trees in island woodlands; on ground under scrub, or among rocks, caves, ledges; in single pairs to small colonies.
- Eggs
- 2-3; pale green to blue-white.
- Range & Status
- coasts and islands of Aust., now absent or rare from coasts of Vic. and Tas. except far e. Vic. (Mallacoota); uncommon SA (Parker et al, 1979). Common on Q coast and Gt Barrier Reef. Sedentary; dispersive. Also se. Asia to PNG, w. Pacific islands and NZ.
- Similar Species
- White-faced Heron, imm.: more extensive white throat; clearer yellow legs; more distinctly pale grey with blackish flight feathers. See also Striated Heron.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Egretta sacra sacra
