I have a question, I've been looking at my Simpson& Day guide,but it doesn't explain how to see the difference between a breeding and non-breeding White-faced Heron. The bird in the photo, is what? And how do I spot the difference? Thanks
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Awesome detail M-L.
Cheers, Owen.
Beautiful photo. I love these birds. They used to be regulars in my back yard but haven't seen them for some time now.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
The white-faced heron has grey plumes on its back & nape & frontal brown plumes during breeding season, Araminta. It's hard to see if it has plumes in the first two areas but it has brown frontal plumes. So I reckon you have a white-faced heron in breeding plumage. And a stunner it is, too.
Thanks Woko, does that mean there is a female around? Or does he put on the breeding plumage just in case a girl flies past? In hope and ready?
M-L
I always put on my finery on Saturday nights in case a female wandered past & I assume the same principle applies to male white-faced herons.
Lovely shot Marie-Louise.... and very humorous Woko :)
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I have a shot of a white-faced heron and it has the brown tufts on the front like your photo shows and I assumed it was in breeding plumage, but wouldn't be certain on that, I would love to know if someone has a better clue than I do.
Shane
Regards
Shane
Araminta , I have just looked it up in another book I have and it says that a few brown tufts may remain in non breeding plumage. It also states that in the breeding season that plumes are on the back and nape.
hope this helps
Shane
Regards
Shane
All good information to have when viewing white-faced herons. Thanks, clif2.
Gorgeous birds!
We get them at our office at Newington Armory (Sydney Olympic Park) - but sometimes after a lot of rain they gather in huge numbers (around 50 birds). Given they are a species I usually see alone, seeing a large flock always looks a bit strange.