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White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica) Alternate name(s): "Pacific Heron"; misnomer: "White-necked Crane" Aboriginal name(s): "bungubungu" [ngadjon]; "kuki pangga" [tjapwurrung]; "djilimilyan", "koondji", "nanto" (WA); "boonabaroo" Size: 0.75 - 1.05 m Body mass: 600-1200 g

Australia: Family Group 5 Family Group 5 Table Great Egret Plumed Egret Eastern Cattle Egret Little Egret Eastern Reef Egret Great-billed Heron White-faced Heron White-necked Heron Pied Heron Rufous Night Heron Little (formerly Striated) Heron Black Bittern Australian Little Bittern Australasian Bittern Royal Spoonbill Yellow-billed Spoonbill Australian White Ibis Straw-necked Ibis Glossy Ibis Black-necked Stork Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description White-necked Herons are tall herons with a completely white head and neck. Their wings and mantle are gark-grey, with a purple sheen, especially during the breeding season, when they have conspicuous spiny ("lanceolate") plumes on the back. In eclipse they lose their plumes and the colours of the plumage become duller in general. They have a grey bill, legs and feet. Juveniles have grey scalloped plumage at the front (neck, breast and belly). The back is duller grey than in adults.

Taxonomy, classification See White-necked 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 the White-necked Heron is available HERE . White-necked Herons breed only in Australia, but may migrate North to eastern Indonesia and southern New Guinea outside the breeding season. In Australia, White-necked Herons are found over most of the continent, including Tasmania, with the exception of the major deserts of the interior, in the eastern half of WA, the western half of SA and the south-eastern corner of the NT. On the fringes of their range towards the arid interior they are present only when there is sufficient surface water, normally after major rainfall events. White-necked Herons are only found in freshwater shallows, along rivers and creeks and around lakes and farm dams and irrigation dams, but also in ephemeral wetlands, such as e.g. ditches or flooded paddocks. Where to look? How to find this species? Those with access to a farm can probably most easily find a White-necked Heron by checking out the local dams. In coastal and urban areas one can probably find them in any kind of small wetland, including roadside ditches.

Sightings Click here for sighting information As is the case also for White-faced Herons, there is no need to go far for seeing a White-necked Heron; there are plenty along water edges almost all through the Australian continent, both inland and along the sea shores. White-necked Herons are regularly found by us in a variety of wetlands in inland NSW, including e.g. ephemeral lakes such as Goran Lake, 30 km South of Gunnedah, NSW, when full. In October 2016 a pair was found breeding at Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW. Since then, White-necked Heron nests have been found by us at this location semi-regularly. C. Hayne reports White-necked Herons breeding regularly at Whittaker's Lagoon, 20 km West of Moree, NSW. J. Greaves reports spotting White-necked Herons at Yellow Water billabong, Kakadu NP, NT, in November 2014. White-necked Herons have also been reported to us from various locations in near-coastal QLD, and also from inland QLD, e.g. Currawinya NP, near Hungerford, QLD. R. Plumtreereports spotting White-necked Herons regularly in East Gippsland, VIC. P. Brown reports spotting a White-necked Heron along the Arnhem Highway, in the Top End of the NT, in August 2018. M. Eaton reports finding a White-necked Heron at Bagama, QLD, near the tip of Cape York peninsula, in August 2019. M. Mearns found a White-necked Heron in Diamantina NP, QLD, in August 2019. A White-necked Heron was found by C. Pears at the golf course in Margaret River, WA, in October 2018.

Photos

ADULT

PAIR

BREEDING

Lateral view of a pair of White-necked Herons in breeding plumage near their nest
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, December 2022]

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Frontal view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage; note the all-white neck
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

Near-frontal view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mann River Nature Reserve, near Glen Innes, NSW, July 2019]

Near-lateral view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mann River Nature Reserve, near Glen Innes, NSW, July 2019]

Near-lateral view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage checking out an ornamental pond
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

Lateral view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mann River Nature Reserve, near Glen Innes, NSW, July 2019]

Lateral view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, April 2011]

Frontal view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage in flight; note the "landing lights" on the wings
[Pilliga NP, NSW, January 2021]

Near-lateral view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage in flight
[Pilliga NP, NSW, January 2021]

Ventral view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage in flight; note the prominent alulas
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, December 2020]

NON-BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a White-necked Heron moulting into breeding plumage (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Glen Iris wetlands, Melbourne, VIC, March 2013]

Lateral view of a White-necked Heron moulting into breeding plumage (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, September 2014]

Lateral view of a White-necked Heron moulting into breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Currawinya NP, near Hungerford, QLD, October 2012]

Frontal view of a White-necked Heron in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Whittaker's Lagoon, near Moree, NSW, June 2012]

Lateral comparison of a White-faced Heron (left) and a White-necked Heron in non-breeding plumage (right)
[Near Moree, NSW, June 2013]

Lateral view of a White-necked Heron in non-breeding plumage in flight
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2012]

A whole array of aquatic birds hunting/foraging: three White-necked Herons (of which two, on the left and right, are in non-breeding plumage, while the one near the centre is an immature bird), two Australian White Ibis in breeding plumage, two Great Egrets, one Purple Swamphen, one Dusky Moorhen and two Pacific Black Ducks
[O'Brien's Creek, Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2011]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile White-necked Heron (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2021]

Close-up frontal view of a juvenile White-necked Heron looking sideways
[Pilliga Wetlands Walk, Pilliga, NSW, August 2022]

Frontal view of a juvenile White-necked Heron looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Springfield Lakes, QLD, July 2018]

Frontal view of a juvenile White-necked Heron looking sideways
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, May 2012]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile White-necked Heron (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2021]

Close-up near-frontal view of a juvenile White-necked Heron
[Pilliga Wetlands Walk, NSW, March 2022]

Close-up near-lateral view of a juvenile White-necked Heron stalking its prey
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

Lateral portrait of a juvenile White-necked Heron
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

Lateral view of a juvenile White-necked Heron
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile White-necked Heron
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

Lateral view of a juvenile White-necked Heron on a dead branch (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2017]

Lateral view of a juvenile White-necked Heron launching itself into the air (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2017]

Lateral view of a juvenile White-necked Heron in flight, just after take-off (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2017]

Most of the time the life of a juvenile White-necked Heron is quiet and peaceful, but then suddenly one gets swooped by a Caspian Tern!
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

Frontal comparison between a juvenile White-necked Heron, right, and a Great Egret
[Pilliga Wetlands Walk, Pilliga, NSW, August 2022]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Jan

Eggs: 4

Incubation period: ca. 30 days

Fledging age: 42 - 49 days

White-necked Herons are colonial breeders. The breeding season of White-necked Herons can be longer, inland especially when there is plenty of water (and thereby prey).

Nest

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

Type: Basket

Material: Sticks

Height above ground: 10 - 25 m

Note that in water or on islands in lakes/dams White-necked Herons can nest much lower than they would do in trees in areas that can be accessed. We have found nests as low as 1-2 m above ground, with juveniles sitting on branches of low shrubs barely above water level.

White-necked Heron nest, just 2 m above the water level, with 4 near-fledging age young in it (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, March 2021]

Close-up view of a White-necked Heron nest with two chicks in cryptic posture, just 2 m above the water level in a swamp
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, December 2022]

White-necked Heron nest with four young chicks in it
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, December 2022]

White-necked Heron nest with two young chicks in it
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, December 2022]

White-necked Heron on its nest, just 2 m above the water level in a swamp
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, October 2016]

White-necked Heron nest with two downy chicks (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Zoom-in on the chicks; this photo also demonstrates that the nest is quite shallow (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

White-necked Heron nest with four near-fledging age young in it (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Only one fledgling is left in this nest; this bird is ready to leave the nest very soon (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

This White-necked Heron nest, high up in a live eucalypt, was found with no significant water surface near it, at a time when significant rain was in the forecast
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Overview of the site of the White-necked Heron nest shown above, in a eucalypt, at the time near a dry creek and a dry paddock
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

White-necked Heron near its nest (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]

Unoccupied White-necked Heron nest
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, December 2022]

Eggs

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

Size: 52 x 38 mm

Colour: White to pale-blue

Shape: Long ellipsoidal

4 eggs inside a White-necked Heron nest (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: ?

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Solitary

Although normally solitary, White-necked Herons can be found in large numbers where the pickings are rich - every single dark dot on the sky in this photo is a White-necked Heron
[Currawinya NP, near Hungerford, QLD, June 2018]

This White-necked Heron felt threatened by a nearby Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, August 2014]

Food, Diet

All egrets and herons prey on aquatic creatures in fresh water or estuaries (fish, frogs, snakes or crustaceans). We are not aware of any specialisation of White-necked Herons.

Lateral view of a White-necked Heron in breeding plumage with small prey, a tiny frog
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

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.

wnheron_20171019.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact call? (adult)	© MD
wnheron_20231227.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact call? (juvenile)	© MD
wnheron_20220218.m4a	(NW NSW)	Warning call (in-flight)	© MD
wnheron_20140419.mp3	(NW NSW)	Alarm/departure (immature)	© MD
wnheron_20161216.mp3	(NW NSW)	? (Adult in-flight)	© MD
wnheron_20250207.m4a	(NW NSW)	Begging calls (2 chicks)	© MD

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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