Birds of the World

Ardeidae : Herons, Egrets & Bitterns

White-faced Heron

Egretta novaehollandiae

Great Otways National Park, Australia - September 2010

White-faced Heron is a common species found throughout most of the Australasian region in a variety of freshwater and coastal wetland habitats.

Canberra, Australia - September 2010

It is a fairly recent colonist of New Zealand with the first breeding records only occurring in 1941.  It spread rapidly, however, and is now the commonest heron in the country.

North Island, New Zealand - November 2005