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Very small heron of marshy, well-vegetated water bodies.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyHerons, Egrets, and Bitterns
SizeMedium
RarityRare
HabitatMarshes, estuaries, river edges, mangroves, mudflats, and shallow water.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from August.
Range map
Range map
1visible hotspots
1visible records
1states
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
Adult pale orangish brown or yellow, depending on the light, with a narrow dark cap. Juvenile darker above with pale feather edges. Can be inconspicuous in dense vegetation, but frequently makes short flights; on flying birds, note dark flight feathers contrasting with pale yellowish wing coverts.
Behavior
Very small heron of marshy, well-vegetated water bodies. Typically quiet, but occasionally gives harsh grating calls when flushed.
Gallery