Bird Guide

White-faced Heron vs Yellow-crowned Night Heron

White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)

White-faced Heron

Egretta novaehollandiae

Large559 gWetland

The adult white-faced heron is medium-sized for the family and mostly pale blue-grey. The forehead, crown, chin and upper throat are white. The crown pattern is variable, with the white occasionally spreading down the neck; the variability makes identification of individuals possible. The iris may be grey, green, dull yellow or cinnamon. The regions between the eye and bill on the side of the head (lores) are black. The beak is black and often pale grey at the base. Voice: The most common call of the white-faced heron is a gravelly croak or gobble, graak or graaw and is typically given in flight, in interactions or in aggressive encounters. Another call, gow, gow, gow is typically given upon returning to a nest. High pitched wrank, oooooooooh or aaarrrgh calls are given as alarm calls.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Brian Ralphs from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, UK · CC BY 2.0
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

Large682 gCoastal

Voice: The most common call of the yellow-crowned night heron is a loud, sharp and quick squawk that the bird gives shortly after taking off or uses as an alarm call or an aggression call. The young beg for food with a soft chu-chu-chu call that becomes louder as the chicks grow older and more demanding. A different range of vocalizations plays an important part in courtship and pair formation.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ianaré Sévi · CC BY 3.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: White-faced Heron and Yellow-crowned Night Heron.