White-necked Heron

About the White-necked Heron

The white-necked heron or Pacific heron (Ardea pacifica) 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.

The white-necked heron was formally described in 1801 by the English ornithologist John Latham under the current binomial name Ardea pacifica. Latham specified the locality as New South Wales. The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.

The white-necked heron is a large, diurnal, long-legged waterbird. It is mostly slate-grey to black with distinctive black spots in the centre of the lower fore-neck and throat. During the breeding season plum-coloured nuptial plumes... Wikipedia →