©Glen Fergus: White morph
©Glen Fergus: Grey morph
©Charlie: White morph
Colours
Distinguishing features
It has very short, yellow legs, and the grey variety's throats and chins are marked by a narrow, white stripe. It has a brown beak, gold-yellow colored eyes and the surrounding areas of its face are normally of a greenish to yellow cast.
It displays an unusual, non-sexual dimorphism, with some members having entirely white plumage and others (the larger portion) being charcoal-grey. The reason for the color variation or "morph," is unknown, though it is most commonly thought to be related to camouflage. (Wikipedia)
Size
- From 58 cm to 75 cm (Length of specimen)
Wingspan
- Wingspan data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
They are found in many areas of Asia including the oceanic region of India, Southeast Asia, Japan, Polynesia, and in Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. (Wikipedia)
Local abundance
- Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia: This is the common egret at Lizard Island. Most are white. The grey morph is seen infrequently.
- Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand: uncommon
Audio recordings
Natural vocalisation. Intraspecific aggression. Calls from a bird in distress (attacked and thrown out of palm tree by another reef heron). Possibly breeding birds.
© Matthias Feuersenger
(source)
Diet
Their food sources are made up predominantly of varieties of ocean-based fish, crustaceans and molluscs. (Wikipedia)
Web resources
References
- Domm, S. (1977). Sea birds and waders of the Lizard Island area, The Sunbird, 8: 1-8. LIRS catalog number 4.
- Smith, G.C. (1987). The birds of Eagle Island, a tropical sand cay on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, The Sunbird, 17(1): 1-11. LIRS catalog number 245.
- Smith, G.C. (1987). The birds of Eagle Island, a tropical sand cay on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, The Sunbird, 17(1): 1-11. LIRS catalog number 245.
- View all references