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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 |
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.
Intermediate Egrets in their nest
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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
.