Learn what every symbol on the card means.Full credits and sources at beakbrain.com/symbols
CoastalPlatform nestHuge · 2.0 kg
ID tip
The great-billed heron is a large bird, typically standing 115 cm (45 in) tall and weighing up to 2.6 kg (5.7 lb). It resembles the purple heron in appearance, although it is larger and darker. The plumage is largely dark grey above. In flight, it has a uniform dark grey upperwing. The flight is slow, with its neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks. The species feeds in shallow water, spearing fish with its long, sharp bill. It will wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Great-billed Heron
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 11 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is September, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Great-billed Heron
The map shades 9 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Brunei.
About the Great-billed Heron
The great-billed heron is a wading bird of the heron family, resident from southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Humblot's HeronArdea humblotiHumblot's heron has a uniform dark gray plumage on its body and darker feathers on its forehead and chin.
White-bellied HeronArdea insignisThe white-bellied heron has a uniform dark grey plumage, a whitish belly, and long silvery or whitish plumes on the rear crown and lower foreneck.
Yellow-billed EgretArdea brachyrhynchaThe yellow-billed egret has a length of 61 to 69 cm (24 to 27 in) and is white, resembling the great egret (A. alba) but differs in having a smaller bill and a gape which does not extend beyond the eye.
Side by side: Goliath Heron vs Great-billed Heron · Agami Heron vs Great-billed Heron
Learn the Great-billed Heron in the BeakBrain App
Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Play today's Daily BirdEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.