Expert at remaining motionless among reeds, with its bill pointed skyward to blend with surrounding vegetation.
VIC: Vulnerable
Indigenous: Gamburrmurdu, Bunkalalakgalala, GäNdhaw', Gulukkulu, A-Bungalalakgalala, Gulu, Duburdubu, Galmanja, Gandhaw, Yellow-Necked Bittern, Yellow-Necked Mangrove Bittern
At a glance
FamilyHerons, Egrets, and Bitterns
SizeLarge
RarityUncommon
HabitatCoastal waters, beaches, estuaries, harbours, islands, and offshore waters depending on season.
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from January to February.
Range map
Range map
190visible hotspots
437visible records
4states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
All ages and plumages have dark upperparts and orange, yellow, and reddish striping on the neck and breast. Female and immature average browner with weaker contrast than males.
Behavior
Typically hides and hunts in vegetation similar to other bitterns but occasionally perches visibly on trees and bushes.
Gallery
Regional timing
New South Wales
Queensland
Northern Territory
Western Australia
Commonly confused with
Nankeen Night HeronNycticorax caledonicusAdult is rufous with pale breast and a black cap. Immature is heavy streaked, and can be easily confused with Striated Heron (black crown), Black Bittern (darker, with yellow neck stripe), or Australasian Bittern (which is a much larger bird).→Medium EgretArdea intermediaThings to look for include a yellow bill that is shorter than Great Egret but longer than Eastern Cattle Egret, a relatively rounded head, and shorter legs than Great Egret, approaching Eastern Cattle Egret.→White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiaeOften solitary. When disturbed it makes a grunting cough noise as it flies away. Young birds lack the white face so beware confusion with all-grey Pacific Reef-Heron, which has chunkier legs and more uniformly dark gray belly; found along rocky coast.→