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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Ardeidae
  4. ›
  5. Ardea
  6. ›
  7. Medium Egret
Medium Egret
Photo · (c) Lewis, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

BirdUp · Species

Medium Egret

Ardea intermediaWagler, 1829

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PELECANIFORMES
Family
Ardeidae
Genus
Ardea

At a glance

The Medium Egret is a very large bird, about 56–70 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
56–70 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Medium Egret look like?

The Medium Egret is a very large bird, about 56–70 cm long and weighing 400–500 g.

The medium egret, median egret, smaller egret or intermediate egret, is a medium-sized heron. Some taxonomists put the species in the genus Egretta or Mesophoyx. It is a resident breeder in southern and eastern Asia.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
56–70 cm
Weight
400–500 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Medium Egret?

The Medium Egret is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Medium Egret eat?

The Medium Egret feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, intertidal invertebrates and fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Medium Egret live in Australia?

The Medium Egret is native to Australia, recorded across 67 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingPAL, OR: India to Japan and Greater Sundas

Non-breedingTo Ryukyu Is. (south Japan) and Philippines

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant
  • Breeding

8 regions recorded