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Little Heron (Butorides atricapilla) Alternate name(s): "Mangrove Heron", "Little (Green) Heron", "Green-backed Heron*" (formerly Striated Heron) Size: 45-50 cm; wing span 60-70 cm Body mass: 210-260 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 Little Herons are small herons with a grey back and a brownish, striated front. Their cap is black, with a black nuchal crest. The eyes are strikingly yellow. The bill is dark-grey. The legs have a greyish-yellow front side and yellow back side. Juveniles have a highly cryptic dark-brown plumage with lighter brown striation that gradually changes into adult plumage.

Taxonomy, classification See Little Heron at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information The Little Heron has been split off and is no longer considered to be conspecific with the Green Heron ("Butorides virescens") found in North America or the Striated Heron ("Butorides striata") of South America.

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 the Little Heron is available HERE . There are about 20 races of Little Herons, which are a sedentary species of small herons found in tropical and subtropical wetlands of Europe, Africa, Arabia, the Indian subcontinent, Asia, Oceania, and Australia. There are two races of Little Herons in Australia. They are found in a narrow coastal strip around the northern half of the Australian continent, from about Exmouth, WA, via the North coast to the South-East coast (NSW, to about the border with VIC). From the longitude of Mt. Isa, eastward along the coastal fringe, race "macrorhyncha" is found; westward of that longitude race "stagnatilis". Race "stagnatilis" will venture a bit further inland along the major rivers of the western Top End of the NT and the Kimberley coastline than Little Herons anywhere else on the continent. As their alternative name already suggests, they favour mangrove swamps and tidal flats as their habitat.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "macrorhyncha" A Little Heron, race "macrorhyncha", was first seen by us in Australia in an intertidal wetland, in a mudflat at the Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, in January 2011. Since then they are found by us and our contributors regularly at the same location. Subsequently Little Herons, race "macrorhyncha", were also seen on various occasions in the Hunter Wetlands NP, in the estuary of the Hunter River near Newcastle, NSW. D. Wilczynska reports spotting a Little Heron, race "macrorhyncha", at Cape Tribulation, Daintree NP, QLD, in March 2015. J. Greaves spotted a Little Heron, race "macrorhyncha", as far South as Otway, Sydney, NSW, in July 2015. M. Mearns reports spotting a Little Heron, race "macrorhyncha", at Paradise Dam on the Burnett River, East of Gayndah, QLD, in April 2016. M. Mearns also spotted a Little Heron, race "macrorhyncha", at Leichhardt Falls, QLD, in September 2019. M. Eaton found Little Herons, race "macrorhyncha", semi-regularly in various wetlands along the coastline of QLD, including King Island, Moreton Bay, QLD, where one was found in January 2020. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports spotting Little Herons, race "macrorhyncha", regularly on the Daintree River, QLD. Race "stagnatilis" B. Hensen reports spotting Little Herons, race "stagnatilis", semi-regularly in and around Darwin, NT. J. Greaves reports spotting a Little Heron, race "stagnatilis", at Roebuck Bay, WA, in April 2015. P. Brown reports spotting Little Herons, race "stagnatilis", semi-regularly in various intertidal wetlands in and around Darwin, NT. P. Brown also found a Little Heron, race "stagnatilis", on the Victoria River in Timber Creek, NT, in November 2018. Only birds found in the region of Katherine, NT, are found farther from the coastline. Race "brevipes" We have spotted a Little Heron, race "brevipes"(?), in Oman.

Photos

Race "macrorhyncha"

Rufous morphology

ADULT

Sex unknown

Usually there is no visible distinction between breeding and non-breeding plumage in Little Herons. However, for a short period near the peak of the breeding season (around the time for mating to egg-laying), they can show signs of a nuptial flush. The lores can turn orange to red and the legs and feet can also turn red.

With nuptial flush

Lateral view of a Little Heron with nuptial flush (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, October 2019]

Without nuptial flush

Frontal view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[South West Rocks, NSW, July 2017]

Frontal view of a Little Heron looking sideways for prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Daintree River, QLD, December 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Little Heron resting in mangroves
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, February 2012]

Near-frontal view of a preening Little Heron (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, October 2019]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, July 2022]

Near-lateral view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hervey Bay, QLD, August 2025]

Near-lateral view of a Little Heron; the bird was waiting for the outgoing tide to expose the mudflat underneath its perch
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, February 2012]

Lateral view of a Little Heron in cryptic posture (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, July 2017]

Lateral view of a Little Heron stalking its prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[King Island, Moreton Bay, QLD, January 2020]

Lateral view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hervey Bay, QLD, August 2025]

Near-dorsal view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hervey Bay, QLD, August 2025]

Dorsal view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hervey Bay, QLD, August 2025]

Dorsal view of a Little Heron with its neck stretched (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, July 2017]

Dorsal view of a Little Heron in low flight
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, January 2011]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Little Heron moulting into adult plumage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Paradise Dam, Burnett River, near Gayndah, QLD, April 2016]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Little Heron moulting into adult plumage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Paradise Dam, Burnett River, near Gayndah, QLD, April 2016]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Little Heron moulting into adult plumage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Paradise Dam, Burnett River, near Gayndah, QLD, April 2016]

Frontal view of a juvenile Little Heron looking for prey
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, March 2015]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Little Heron showing its yellow gape
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, March 2015]

Close-up near-lateral view of a juvenile Little Heron (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Little Heron hunting in a mudflat
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, March 2015]

Lateral view of a juvenile Little Heron
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, March 2015]

Lateral view of a juvenile Little Heron stalking its prey
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, March 2015]

Grey morphology

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Cape Tribulation, Daintree NP, QLD, March 2015]

Lateral view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wellington Point, Brisbane, QLD, December 2018]

Lateral view of a Little Heron on the prowl (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, February 2018]

Lateral view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, February 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Immature Little Heron hunting in salt water from a rocky point (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Little Heron (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Wetlands, QLD, April 2018]

Race "stagnatilis"

Rufous morphology

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, August 2020]

Lateral view of a Little Heron hunting from a rock platform (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cullen Bay, Darwin, NT, January 2018]

Lateral view of a Little Heron hunting on a rock platform (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a Little Heron hunting on a rock platform (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Lateral view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, August 2017]

Lateral view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, August 2017]

Lateral view of a Little Heron fluttering back to its perch after hunting in shallow water (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cullen Bay, Darwin, NT, January 2018]

Lateral view of a Little Heron flying over a beach to reach its new hunting ground (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Roebuck Bay, WA, April 2015]

Little Heron flying over coastal waters to reach its new hunting ground (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Roebuck Bay, WA, April 2015]

While banking to land, this Little Heron provided a view of its upperwing plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Roebuck Bay, WA, April 2015]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of an immature Little Heron moulting into adult plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2018]

Lateral view of an immature Little Heron moulting into adult plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, October 2018]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Little Heron (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Nightcliff, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Grey morphology

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up lateral view of a Little Heron with nuptial flush - orange-yellow skin patches on the face, sometimes also a reddish tinge on the legs (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin, NT, March 2023]

Lateral view of a Little Heron with nuptial flush (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, January 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Timber Creek, NT, November 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Timber Creek, NT, November 2018]

Distant near-lateral view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, January 2018]

Lateral view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Nightcliff, Darwin, NT, January 2016]

Lateral view of a Little Heron (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, October 2018]

Lateral view of a Little Heron on the prowl (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, October 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile Little Heron (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Esplanade, Darwin, NT, March 2021]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Little Heron (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, May 2021]

Race "brevipes"(?)

Photos of Little Herons, race "brevipes"(?), were taken in Oman.

Breeding information

Breeding season: Nov - Apr

Eggs: 3 - 4

Incubation period: 21 - 25 days

Fledging age: ?

The breeding season of Little 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 from August to December. There may be two broods in a season. Chicks leave the nest and wander around on nearby branches after 13-17 days, but they take much longer to fly.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

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

Type: Basket

Material: Sticks

Height above ground: 3 - 9 m

Close-up lateral view of a Little Heron on its nest, protecting its brood against the wet
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, February 2022]

Little Heron adding a stick to its nest with two eggs in it (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nightcliff, Darwin, NT, November 2020]

Little Heron nest with two eggs in it (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nightcliff, Darwin, NT, November 2020]

Eggs

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

Size: 42 x 31 mm

Colour: White to pale-green

Shape: Tapered oval

Closer look at two Little Heron eggs (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nightcliff, Darwin, NT, November 2020]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial?

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Solitary

Food, Diet

This Little Heron has caught a small fish (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, February 2012]

Close-up lateral view of a Little Heron eating a fish (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, April 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a Little Heron swallowing a fish (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, April 2023]

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.

strhern_20150327.m4a

macrorhyncha (NE NSW)

Warning/departure?

© MD

More Little Heron sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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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