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Intermediate EgretAlternate name(s): "Plumed Egret", "White Crane*", "Median Egret", "Smaller Egret", "Yellow-billed Egret" Size: 55-70 cm; wing span 1.05-1.2 m Weight: 360-405 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Race "intermedia"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
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BREEDING |
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in breeding
plumage
and nuptial flush
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]
The same bird as shown above, slightly different posture
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]
Close-up lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Botanic Gardens, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2019]
Intermediate Egret seen hunting in a dried-up part of a
lake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]
Near-frontal view of an Intermediate Egret in breeding
plumage
[Fogg Dam CR,
NT, August 2014]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in breeding
plumage
[Fogg Dam CR,
NT, August 2014]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in breeding
plumage
spreading its wings (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Size comparison between an Intermediate Egret in breeding
plumage and a
male
Australian Little Bittern
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in transitional
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, July 2017]
Near-dorsal view of an Intermediate Egret starting to moult into its
breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2009]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in partial
breeding plumage
in low hovering flight
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fogg Dam CR,
NT, May 2018]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in partial
breeding plumage
in low hovering flight
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fogg Dam CR,
NT, May 2018]
Near-lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in partial
breeding plumage
banking to land
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fogg Dam CR,
NT, May 2018]
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NON-BREEDING |
Close-up lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding
plumage with a
deformation at the base of its bill
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba Wetlands, QLD, August 2020]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding
plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Near-dorsal view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding
plumage
[Inverell, NSW, January 2017]
Dorsal view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding
plumage
[Inverell, NSW, January 2017]
Dorsal view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding
plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]
Near-frontal view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding
plumage in flight
[Macquarie Marshes NR,
NSW, May 2021]
Near-frontal view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding
plumage in flight
[Macquarie Marshes NR,
NSW, May 2021]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding
plumage in flight
[Macquarie Marshes NR,
NSW, May 2021]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in non-breeding
plumage in
flight, with fully stretched neck
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2011]
The same Intermediate Egret as shown above, now with full flaps for landing
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2011]
Intermediate Egret in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2010]
Here a direct comparison of an Intermediate Egret in flight
(back right) with a
Great Egret
in the foreground; the main distinction between the
two is in the lores, which extend to behind the eye for the
Great
Egret, but not for the Intermediate Egret
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2010]
This photo allows a comparison of the relative sizes of a Cattle Egret (centre), a Great Egret (left) and an Intermediate
Egret (right); all of them are searching for nesting material under a
tree after a violent storm
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Most of the birds shown here will probably be Intermediate Egrets;
this photo gives an impression of how many egrets a single lake such
as Narrabri Lake can support in a breeding
season; obviously this flock is only part of the local population
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2011]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral view of a (probably young) Intermediate Egret
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2012]
Near-dorsal view of a (probably young) Intermediate Egret
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2012]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Oct - Jan | Eggs: 3 - 4 | Incubation period: 25 days | Fledging age: 63 - 70 days |
The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Intermediate Egrets breed Dec - Mar. Given the right conditions, Intermediate Egrets can breed any time of the year. They breed in colonies, together with other aquatic birds.
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Basket | Material: Sticks, lined with leaves | Height above ground: 5 - 20 m |
Seen nesting, together with other aquatic birds, along the shores of Narrabri Lake during the breeding season of 2008 and subsequent years.
Pair of Intermediate Egrets, both in breeding
plumage with
nuptial flush, adding a stick to their nest -
usually, the division of labour in pairs of egrets is that the
male (presumably the bird at upper right) brings the sticks,
with which the female (on the left) builds the nest
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]
Lateral view of an Intermediate Egret in breeding
plumage with
nuptial flush on its nest; note the
red base of the bill, the turquoise orbital skin
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 47 x 34 mm | Colour: Light blue | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Partly migratory/dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair/flock |
We have observed an Intermediate Egret use a hunting technique that we had previously only seen a Black-necked Stork employ.
Intermediate Egret standing on a lily pad
[Fogg Dam CR,
NT, August 2014]
Intermediate Egret using its wing to frighten fish in the water...
[Fogg Dam CR,
NT, August 2014]
... before pouncing on its prey; note how the lily pad provides a good
base for the Intermediate Egret to push off from
[Fogg Dam CR,
NT, August 2014]
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Food, Diet |
All egrets and herons prey on aquatic creatures in fresh water or estuaries (fish, frogs, snakes or crustaceans). Intermediate Egrets will take any of those.
Intermediate Egrets with a frog it has just caught high up in a
tree standing on the edge of Narrabri Lake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]
Intermediate Egret trying unsuccessfully to swallow a snake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]
This Intermediate Egret has caught a fish (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
We will try to replace this poor recording with a better one as soon as possible.
integrt_20140817.m4a |
intermedia (Darwin, NT) |
Annoyed | © MD |
More Intermediate Egret sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.