White-necked Heron
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BirdUp · Species

White-necked Heron

Ardea pacificaLatham, 1801

Endemic
Order
PELECANIFORMES
Family
Ardeidae
Genus
Ardea
Commonness
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

The white-necked heron or Pacific heron is a species of heron that is found on most of the Australian continent wherever freshwater habitats exist. It is also found in parts of Indonesia and New Guinea, but is uncommon in Tasmania. The populations of this species in Australia are known to be nomadic like most water birds in Australia, moving from one water source to another, often entering habitats they have not previously occupied, taking advantage of flooding and heavy rain where the surplus of food allows them to breed and raise their young. Irruptive movements may occur when environmental conditions are right in places where the species has been rare or absent.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

02 · Where

Where to find it

Breeding range
Australia

03 · When

When to look

Months this species is recorded across its Australian range.

  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

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