Pied Heron
Egretta picata
Silhouette: L. Shyamal · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPelecaniformes (Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies)
- FamilyArdeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
- GenusEgretta (Small Egrets and Herons)
- SpeciesEgretta picata (Pied Heron)
About the Pied Heron
The pied heron (Egretta picata), also known as the pied egret is a bird found in coastal and subcoastal areas of monsoonal northern Australia as well as some parts of Wallacea and New Guinea. The species was originally described by ornithologist John Gould in 1845. Recent taxonomists put this species in the genus Egretta. There are no recognised subspecies.
It is a small heron, 43–55 cm (17–22 in) long, with dark slaty wings, body, and crested head, with a white throat and neck. The appearance is similar to the white-necked heron. Males (247–280 g (8.7–9.9 oz)) are heavier than females (225–242 g (7.9–8.5 oz)), but the two are similar in appearance.
Immature birds lack the crest as well as the dark colouring on the head and may look like small versions of the white-necked heron. The juveniles were once classified as a separate species. Its habitat mainly comprises a range of wetlands and wet grasslands. The call of the pied heron is a loud 'awk' or 'ohrk' in flight. Soft cooing is given around the nest. Little else is known about vocalisations. Breeding takes place from February... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Pied Heron in Kakadu National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kakadu National Park
intermediate egret
Egretta intermedia
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
White-faced Heron
Egretta novaehollandiae
Pacific Reef Heron
Egretta sacra
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Nankeen Night-Heron
Nycticorax caledonicus
White-necked Heron
Ardea pacifica
Ardea modesta
Ardea modesta
Striated Heron
Butorides striata
Great-billed Heron
Ardea sumatrana
Straw-necked Ibis
Threskiornis spinicollis
Australian White Ibis
Threskiornis molucca
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Raja Ampat | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 5 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Pied Heron in Kakadu National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Pied Heron sighting in Kakadu National Park, based on 766 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Pied Heron in Kakadu National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Pied Heron in Kakadu National Park in our monthly data.