PIED HERON
Egretta picata
DESCRIPTION
The Pied Heron is a small, striking waterbird found across northern Australia. Adults have a dark slate-grey to black body, a white neck and throat, yellow legs and a yellow-orange bill. During breeding season they develop long decorative plumes on the head and neck.
QUICK FACTS
• Pied Herons are found mainly across northern Australia and New Guinea.
• They often gather in large numbers when wetlands are rich with food.
• Their yellow legs and feet become especially noticeable when they take flight.
• During breeding season adults develop longer plumes around the head and neck.
• They nest in colonies, often alongside other waterbirds.
• Both parents help incubate the eggs and feed the young.
• Wet season flooding can create excellent feeding conditions for these birds.
WHERE IT LIVES
Pied Herons are common across the tropical north of Australia. They favour freshwater wetlands, billabongs, floodplains, swamps and shallow lagoons, particularly where seasonal flooding provides plenty of food.
WHAT IT EATS
Pied Herons feed mainly on small fish, frogs, tadpoles, aquatic insects and other small creatures. They hunt in shallow water, either standing patiently or moving quickly when prey is spotted.
PETE'S PHOTO STORY
Pied Herons can be great fun to photograph when they become active around the wetlands. I caught these two in mid-air facing each other, with their wings spread and their long yellow legs hanging below them. Water droplets were still falling from their feet, showing how quickly they had just lifted from the water. It was one of those brief moments of action that lasted only a second but made a completely different photograph.