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Often mistaken for an egret in flight due to its all-white wings, but the dark head separates it from any egret.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyHerons, Egrets, and Bitterns
SizeLarge
RarityRare
HabitatMarshes, estuaries, river edges, mangroves, mudflats, and shallow water.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from January.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Chi-Hsuan Shao
Range map
Range map
4visible hotspots
25visible records
3states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
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
Nonbreeding adults and juveniles are brown all over save for the white wings. In areas where the ranges of multiple pond-heron species overlap, nonbreeders and juveniles are best left unidentified.
Behavior
Breeding adults have a chestnut head, neck, and breast, and a veil of bluish-black plumes over the white wings.
Gallery