White-faced Heron
Egretta novaehollandiae
-27.4757, 152.979
Field Notes
Description:
The White-faced Heron, a relatively small heron of the family Ardeidae, is a common bird throughout most of Australasia, including New Guinea, the islands of Torres Strait, Indonesia, New Zealand, the islands of the Sub-antarctic, and all but the driest areas of Australia.
Habitat:
Locally nomadic and found in both fresh and salty wetlands, farm dams, pastures, grasslands, crops, shores, saltmarsh, tidal mudflats, boat-harbours, beaches, golf courses, orchards or in garden fish-ponds. This fine specimen was spotted at the Brisbane Botanical Gardens, Mt. Coot-Tha.
Notes:
A question: Why is the White-faced Heron named as such when, upon closer inspection, it clearly has yellow facial feathers? Even on the Wikipedia page there's a photo that shows this. It's as clear as day. Anyone?
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