Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
White-faced Heron

White-faced Heron

Egretta novaehollandiae

The White-faced Heron, Egretta novaehollandiae, also known as the White-fronted Heron, is a medium-sized heron with a pale, slightly bluish-grey plumage. It is adorned with distinctive white facial markings, including a white forehead, crown, chin, and upper throat. The legs are a striking yellow, and the beak is black, often showing pale grey at the base. During the breeding season, the heron sports pinkish-brown or bronze nuptial plumes on the foreneck and breast, and blue-grey plumes on the back.

Identification Tips

Adult White-faced Herons stand between 60 to 70 cm in height and weigh around 550 g. The iris of the bird may vary in color from grey to green, dull yellow, or cinnamon. Immature birds are paler grey with a white throat and may exhibit a reddish hue on the underparts. The variability in the crown pattern allows for individual identification.

Habitat

This heron is highly adaptable and can be found near almost any shallow water body, be it fresh or saline. Habitats range from wetlands and farm dams to pastures, grasslands, shores, and even suburban fish ponds.

Distribution

The species is widespread across Australasia, inhabiting regions including New Guinea, the Torres Strait islands, Indonesia, New Zealand, and all but the driest parts of Australia. It has also been recorded as a vagrant in locations such as China and the Solomon Islands.

Behaviour

The White-faced Heron is known for its slow, bouncing flight and is often seen perching on various elevated structures. It is locally nomadic and may exhibit territorial behavior during the breeding season.

Song & Calls

The heron's vocalizations include a gravelly croak or gobble, often heard in flight or during interactions. It also emits a "gow, gow, gow" upon returning to the nest and high-pitched alarm calls when threatened.

Breeding

Breeding typically occurs in the austral spring, although it can happen at other times in response to rainfall. The nest is an untidy shallow bowl of sticks, usually placed high in a tree. Clutches usually consist of three to five pale blue eggs, with both parents sharing incubation and chick-rearing duties.

Similar Species

The White-faced Heron can be confused with other heron species, but its distinctive white facial markings and pale blue-grey plumage set it apart.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the White-faced Heron is varied, including fish, frogs, small reptiles, and insects. It employs various hunting techniques, such as standing still, walking slowly in shallow water, or even chasing prey with open wings.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the White-faced Heron as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant threats to its survival.

White-faced Heron Sounds


Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

White-faced Herons on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Herons, Bitterns

A photo of a Agami Heron (Agamia agami)

Agami Heron

Agamia agami
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Louise L
Easy to use and accurate
Love this app. It is easy to use and accurate, Their backup communication is really good. I noted a missing species. All through the process, I was kept informed about the progress in correcting the information. I now have the corrected, updated version. 😁 Thanks!
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
Abi.M
Awesome App
I really enjoy using this app! It is such a friendly community of bird-lovers who are happy to help if I need ID advice. It’s been great motivation to get outdoors and go birding more! 10/10 😍😍
BCHphotography_
Such a great app!
I didn’t think I could enjoy birding more but this app makes it so much better. Some great features and a really great way to share your sightings with your friends or fellow birders nearby or around the world! ❤️
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.