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Rufous (Nankeen) Night HeronAlternate name(s): "Night Heron"; misnomer: "Nankeen Crane"  Aboriginal name(s): Race "hilli":
"dharrun" [yuwaalaraay], "yirrin" [yuwaalaraay];"kuki kalwar" [tjapwurrung]; "ngalgan", "ngalganing" (WA); "oroo" Size: 55-65 cm Weight: 550-900 g |
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Description
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
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 Click here for a physical description
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
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Click here for sighting information
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Photos |
Race "australasiae"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
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BREEDING |
Frontal view of an adult Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2014]
Frontal view of a Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2014]
Close-up near-frontal view of a Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of
I. Duncan)
[Glen Iris wetlands, Melbourne, VIC, February 2013]
Close-up near-lateral view of a Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, July 2022]
Close-up near-lateral view of a Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
in breeding plumage,
now seen preening
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, July 2022]
Close-up near-lateral view of a Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Tumbling Waters, near Darwin, NT, September 2019]
Near-lateral view of a Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in breeding
plumage looking
sideways; note the very long nuchal plume
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, November 2022]
Close-up lateral portrait of a Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, April 2022]
Lateral view of a Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Herdsman Lake, Perth, WA, July 2022]
Lateral view of an adult Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in breeding
plumage (photo courtesy of
I. Duncan)
[Glen Iris wetlands, Melbourne, VIC, February 2013]
Lateral view of an adult Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in breeding
plumage, now in bright
sunlight
(photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Glen Iris wetlands, Melbourne, VIC, February 2013]
The same Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron as above, now with its bill
partly open (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Glen Iris wetlands, Melbourne, VIC, February 2013]
Close-up near-dorsal view of a Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Knuckey Lagoon, Darwin, NT, November 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in breeding
plumage hiding in
dark underbrush
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Herdsman Lake, Perth, WA, December 2014]
Lateral view of an adult Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2012]
Near-dorsal view of an adult Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2012]
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NON-BREEDING |
Close-up frontal portrait of an adult Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in
non-breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, June 2017]
Close-up lateral view of an adult Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in
non-breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, June 2017]
Comparison of Rufous (Nankeen) Night Herons with an
Australian Raven,
showing the almost equal size
[50 km S of Mungindi, NSW, January 2023]
Adult Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in non-breeding
plumage in
flight displaying its upperwing pattern
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2013]
Adult Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in non-breeding
plumage in
flight displaying its underwing pattern
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2013]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral/ventral view of a sub-adult Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
moulting into adult plumage;
note the "ear tufts"
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Herdsman Lake, Perth, WA, July 2022]
Close-up lateral view of an immature Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, July 2018]
Close-up near-dorsal view of an immature Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, July 2018]
Dorsal view of an immature Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, July 2018]
Frontal view of a juvenile Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
[50 km S of Mungindi, NSW, January 2023]
Frontal view of a juvenile Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Broadwater, near Dalby, QLD, January 2018]
Near-frontal view of a juvenile Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
looking sideways
[50 km S of Mungindi, NSW, January 2023]
Near-lateral view of a juvenile Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
looking at the observer
[Near Pilliga, NSW, February 2023]
Adult Rufous (Nankeen) Night Herons with a juvenile
[50 km S of Mungindi, NSW, January 2023]
Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, February 2023]
Lateral view of a juvenile Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron high up in a tree...
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, October 2011]
Juvenile Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron having a good look at the nosy
photographer
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, October 2011]
Close-up near-dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, February 2023]
Dorsal view of a juvenile Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron in flight
[Near Moree, NSW, April 2012]
Upon landing this juvenile Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron displays its
wing pattern
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, October 2011]
Close-up near-lateral comparison of a juvenile Rufous (Nankeen)
Night Heron with a male
Australasian Darter
[Near Pilliga, NSW, February 2023]
Near-frontal/ventral view of a fledgling Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Near-fledging age Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron that does not have
flight yet, waiting to be fed by its parents
[Macquarie Marshes NR,
NSW, April 2011]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Sep - Jan | Eggs: 2 - 4 | Incubation period: 21 - 22 days | Fledging age: 42 - 49 days |
The breeding season of Rufous (Nankeen) Night Herons depends on geographical latitude. The period listed in the table above refers to the SE of Australia. In the tropical North the breeding season is usually late in the wet season, i.e. February-April.
| Nest building: ? | Incubation: Female & male | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Basket | Material: Sticks | Height above ground: <5(?) m |
Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron usually nest on horizontal forks in standing in, or at least near, water in swamps, shallows of lakes or intertidal wetlands.
Two Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron chicks studying the observer
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cullen Bay, Darwin, NT, December 2017]
Two Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron chicks studying the observer
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cullen Bay, Darwin, NT, December 2017]
View from below of the stick nest of a pair of Rufous (Nankeen) Night Herons
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cullen Bay, Darwin, NT, December 2017]
One of the owners of the Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron nest shown above
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cullen Bay, Darwin, NT, December 2017]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 50 x 37 mm | Colour: Pale blue-green | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair/family |
Although predominantly nocturnal, Rufous (Nankeen) Night Herons have been observed by us regularly when active during the day (and not flushed by us). We have seen them hunting in the morning, near midday and early afternoon. In major wetlands they can be seen in their thousands in a small area.
During the day Rufous (Nankeen) Night Herons tend to hide in dense
vegetation, e.g. in trees standing in
swamps
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, July 2022]
As their name already suggests, Rufous (Nankeen) Night Herons are
primarily nocturnal predators (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, July 2020]
Part of a larger population of Rufous (Nankeen) Night Herons in a
swamp at
Yarrie Lake, 30 km west of Narrabri, NSW
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, August 2012]
At Macquarie Marshes NR we observed a bird walking to and fro on a major, almost horizontal branch, checking for prey underneath from various vantage points (photo below).
Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron using an horizontal branch to check for prey
from various vantage points
[Macquarie Marshes
NR, NSW, April 2011]
Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron demanding to be fed by humans
(photo courtesy of T. Rodoni)
[South Yunderup, WA, December 2013]
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Food, Diet |
The fact that this Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron is being pursued by a
White-breasted
Woodswallow during their breeding season indicates that
Night Herons may take other birds' nestlings
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2012]
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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.
| rufhern_20230227.mp3 |
australasiae (NW NSW) |
Contact calls(?) | © MD | |
| rufhern_20140820.m4a |
australasiae (Darwin, NT) |
Warning calls? ( Bar-shouldered Dove in bkgd) | © MD | |
| rufhern_20230227_3.mp3 |
australasiae (NW NSW) |
Arrival (juvenile) | © MD | |
| rufhern_20230227_2.mp3 |
australasiae (NW NSW) |
Upset? (juvenile) | © MD | |
| rufhern_20230227_4.mp3 |
australasiae (NW NSW) |
? (juvenile) | © MD |
More Rufous (Nankeen) Night Heron sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.