Water for the environment: wetlands

	Wetlands Facts about Wetlands Wetland Plants and Animals Birds   Search:  [ HOME ] [ CONTACT ]		The Birds of NSW Wetlands - Herons Order - Ciconiiformes Pacific Heron White-faced Heron – also called Blue Crane or White-fronted      Heron Rufous Night Heron - also called Nankeen Night Heron or      Night Heron Striated Heron - also called Green-backed Heron, Little Green      Heron, or Mangrove Heron References and Further Reading Pacific Heron Ardea pacifica General Characteristics: Body is grey-black, head and neck largely white in colour. Perch, roost and nest in open or bare trees. Diet: Tadpoles, frogs, crustaceans, fish and snails. Habitat: Typically found in inland ephemeral rivers and swamps. Uncommon on the NSW coast. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] White-faced Heron – also called Blue Crane or      White-fronted Heron Ardea novaehollandiae General Characteristics: The most commonly seen Australian Heron. Long grey plumage on back and breast, with a white face. Nest in trees, not necessarily near water. Diet: Primarily crustaceans, but also fish, spiders, snails worms, frogs and insects. Habitat: Can be found in a range of different environments, from intertidal mud flats to rock pools, estuaries, dams and swamps. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Rufous Night Heron - also called Nankeen      Night Heron or Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus General Characteristics: Cinnamon brown back and wings, lemon-brown face and breast, black crown and beak. Nest in trees and shrubs up to 25m above the ground. Diet: Fish, amphibians, crustaceans, insects and other birds eggs and chicks. Habitat: Nocturnal. Most commonly found in permanent and semi-permanent fresh and brackish waters. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Striated Heron - also called Green-backed      Heron, Little Green Heron, or Mangrove      Heron. Butorides striatus General Characteristics: Greenish-grey back and wings, brown breast, black crown and beak, and a white line with spots down the throat. Solitary birds, roosting alone within the shelter of low mangrove branches. Diet: Crustaceans, molluscs, fish and insects. Habitat: Typically found in coastal mangrove areas. Distribution in NSW: NSW coast only. [ TOP ] References and Further Reading Fullagar, P. J. and Davey, C. C. 1983. Herons, Egrets, Ibises and Spoonbills. Order: Ciconiiformes. In "Wetlands in New South Wales". (Ed C. Haigh). National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW. Readers Digest. 1988. Readers Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds. Reader’s Digest, Sydney. Schodde, R., I.J. Mason., M.L. Dudzinski and J.L. McKean (1980) ‘Variations in the striated heron, Butorides striatus, in Australia, Emu, 80, pp 203 – 212.
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