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5

Eastern Reef Egret (Egretta [Ardea] sacra) Alternate name(s): "Pacific Reef Heron", "Sacred Heron" Size: 60-70 cm; wing span 90-100 cm Weight: 330-470 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Eastern Reef Egrets are the medium-size egrets. Their plumage comes in two different morphologies: white and grey. The irises are yellow; the colour of the legs and feet can range from grey to greenish-yellow and even bright-yellow. What distinguishes white-morphology Eastern Reef Egrets from other species of egrets is their comparatively very long bill, which is greenish-yellow, and the short, strong legs. Neither morphology shows a difference between breeding and eclipse plumage.

Taxonomy, classification See Eastern Reef Egret (Pacific Reef Heron) at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of Eastern Reef Egret (Pacific Reef Heron) is available HERE . Eastern Reef Egrets are found in coastal regions of India, South East Asia, Japan, Polynesia and, farther southward, in Australia and New Zealand. In Australia only nominate race "sacra" is found, which populates the entire coastal fringe, except the Nullarbor in SA/WA. Their range extends north across the Torres Strait and also includes the Great Barrier Reef. They are occasionally found on islands along Bass Strait towards northern Tasmania. There are two different morphologies, white and grey. The white morphology is more common in the tropics. Eastern Reef Egrets are primarily found in coastal areas such as intertidal wetlands with mangroves, mudflats and several offshore islands, but they also like hunting from coral reefs, rocks and rockfaces.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "sacra" B. Hensen reports spotting Eastern Reef Egrets, race "sacra", (both white and grey morphology) in and around Darwin, NT, semi-regularly, starting in March 2013. They were found by various contributors and ourselves in the same area as well. Eastern Reef Egrets (grey morphology), race "sacra", were observed by B. Hensen at Maroubra, Sydney, NSW, in May 2013. We first spotted a grey morphology Eastern Reef Egret, race "sacra", at Point Plomer, Limeburners Creek NP, NSW, in October 2013. J. Greaves reports spotting a grey morphology Eastern Reef Egret, race "sacra", at Roebuck Bay, WA, in April 2015. M. Mearns reports spotting Eastern Reef Egrets, race "sacra", of both morphologies, on Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, in January 2016. M. Eaton reports finding Eastern Reef Egrets, race "sacra", semi-regularly in (near-)coastal wetlands along the entire coastline of QLD. R. Russell found a grey morphology Eastern Reef Egret, race "sacra", 10 km North of Mossman, QLD, in November 2017. C. Pears reports spotting a grey morphology Eastern Reef Egret, race "sacra", at Geordie Bay, Rottnest Island, near Perth, WA, in May 2018. D. Dyer found a grey morphology Eastern Reef Egret, race "sacra", at Cervantes, WA, in March 2022. A. Ross-Taylor reports spotting a white morphology Eastern Reef Egret, race "sacra", at Port Douglas, QLD, in May 2022.

Photos

Race "sacra"

White morphology

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a white morphology Eastern Reef Egret about to strike its prey (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Near-lateral view of a white morphology Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cullen Bay, Darwin, NT, October 2017]

Lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Lateral view of a white morphology Eastern Reef Egret stalking its prey; this bird may be in breeding plumage - note the bright-yellow legs (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Port Douglas, QLD, May 2022]

Near-dorsal view of an Eastern Reef Egret sitting on a rock (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Stand-off between an Eastern Reef Egret and a Little Pied Cormorant; note the raised hackles/wings
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Nightcliff, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Close-up lateral view of a white morphology Eastern Reef Egret in flight (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Direct comparison of the two morphologies of Eastern Reef Egrets (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Direct comparison of the two morphologies of Eastern Reef Egrets in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Grey morphology

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Airlie Beach, QLD, July 2021]

Frontal view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Airlie Beach, QLD, July 2021]

Frontal view of a grey morphology Eastern Reef Egret ready to strike from a rock
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Maroubra, Sydney, NSW, May 2013]

Near-frontal view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Airlie Beach, QLD, July 2021]

Near-frontal view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, August 2020]

Close-up near-lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cairns, QLD, July 2018]

Near-lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Near-lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Airlie Beach, QLD, July 2021]

Lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Airlie Beach, QLD, July 2021]

Lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Airlie Beach, QLD, July 2021]

Lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret on a rocky beach (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret stalking prey on a rock shelf (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cullen Bay, Darwin, NT, October 2017]

Close-up lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, October 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a hunched Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Geordie Bay, Rottnest Island, near Perth, WA, May 2018]

Near-dorsal view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, October 2017]

Near-dorsal view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cullen Bay, Darwin, NT, October 2017]

Near-dorsal view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Airlie Beach, QLD, July 2021]

Dorsal view of an Eastern Reef Egret (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Distant views of an Eastern Reef Egret in flight
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Feb

Eggs: 2 - 4

Incubation period: 25 - 28 days

Fledging age: 35 - 42 days

Given the right conditions, Eastern Reef Egret can breed basically throughout the year in the northern, tropical parts of the continent. In the tropical North they are also known to be colonial nesters, whereas in the South of the continent pairs will nest separately.

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Sticks, seaweed

Height above ground: 0 - 5(?) m

Eastern Reef Egret nests can be on the ground, in trees, mangrove or on/in rock ledges/niches.

View from above onto an Eastern Reef Egret nest on a rock ledge (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Eastern Reef Egret on its nest in a rock niche (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Eastern Reef Egret on its nest under overhanging rocks (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Eastern Reef Egret on its nest on a rock ledge (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Eastern Reef Egret nest with two chicks in it (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Closer view of two Eastern Reef Egret chicks in their nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Eastern Reef Egret nest in a tree on a coral atoll (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Eastern Reef Egret guarding its nest (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 46 x 35 mm

Colour: Light-blue

Shape: Tapered oval

View from above into a well-protected Eastern Reef Egret nest with two eggs in it (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Behaviour

Eastern Reef Egrets can hunt while wading in shallow water, from rocks in shallow water or from the beach front.

Lateral view of an Eastern Reef Egret posturing to impress the competition (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cullen Bay, Darwin, NT, October 2017]

Grey morphology Eastern Reef Egret displaying to its partner... (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

... to receive some TLC (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Eastern Reef Egrets are often found in mudflats in intertidal wetlands dominated by mangroves (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, July 2021]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a white morphology Eastern Reef Egret with its prey, a fish; this bird may be in breeding plumage - note the bright-yellow legs (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Port Douglas, QLD, May 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a grey morphology Eastern Reef Egret that has spotted a worm (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Grey morphology Eastern Reef Egret with its prey, a worm; the ensuing fight lasted for several minutes, but the end result was never in doubt... (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Eastern Reef Egret with its prey, a fish (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, January 2019]

Eastern Reef Egret with its prey, a king prawn (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Esplanade, Darwin, NT, March 2021]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Fri, 10 June 2022, 1:43 +00:00