Pacific Reef Heron

Egretta sacra

Family: Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns · Status: Uncommon resident · Size: 58 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Occurs along coasts from southern China, Korea and Japan through Southeast Asia to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Identification

Adult dark morph has diagnostic overall dark greyish plumage and greenish-yellow legs and feet. Adult white morph is almost all white with dull yellowish-green facial skin. Distinguished from non-breeding Chinese Egret by shorter, thicker legs, shorter neck, blunter bill, and straight upper edge of loral skin in front of the eye (kinked downwards in Chinese Egret). Distinguished from Little Egret by yellow (not black) legs and feet, shorter and thicker legs and shorter neck.

Habitat

Rocky shores, beaches and mudflats.

Behaviour

Usually solitary or found in pairs. Exclusively coastal in habit preference.