# White-faced Heron (*Egretta novaehollandiae*) The White-faced Heron is a tall bird with long legs and a beautiful gray body. It loves to stand near water, looking for fish and frogs to eat. You can often see it wading in shallow ponds or along the coast. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![White-faced Heron](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/White-faced-Heron444.jpg&width=800) Photo: Benjamint444, GFDL 1.2 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White-faced-Heron444.jpg) ## Appearance The White-faced Heron is a medium-sized, slender bird with a distinctive white face and neck, contrasting with its slate-grey body. It has yellow legs and a long, pointed dark bill. This unique white face makes it easily distinguishable from other grey herons. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Pelecaniformes - **Family:** Ardeidae - **Genus:** Egretta ## Interesting facts - A White-faced Heron might shiver its bill in the water to attract curious fish! - Their call is a harsh, guttural croak, quite different from a melodic song. - Their feathers are covered in a special powder, keeping them waterproof for hunting! - Young herons don't have the white face yet; they appear all grey until they mature. ## Special abilities - **Water Stirrer:** White-faced Herons can stir the water with their feet to flush out hidden fish, making them easier to catch. - **Lightning Strike:** White-faced Herons have a lightning-fast neck strike to spear or grab their prey with incredible precision. - **Glare Shield:** White-faced Herons can sometimes hunt with their wings partly open, creating shade to reduce water glare. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-70 cm - **Wingspan:** 100-110 cm - **Weight:** 0.4-0.6 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-5 - **Incubation:** 22-26 days ## Diet & Feeding They primarily eat small aquatic creatures like fish and frogs, caught with a quick strike. - **Primary Foods:** fish, frogs, insects, crustaceans, worms - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Mosquitofish (*Gambusia affinis*) — Often preys on this invasive fish in various waterways. - **Hunts:** Growling Grass Frog (*Litoria raniformis*) — Catches various frog species from the water's edge. - **Hunts:** Common Yabby (*Cherax destructor*) — Feeds on freshwater crustaceans like this yabby. - **Eaten by:** Wedge-tailed Eagle (*Aquila audax*) — Large raptors can sometimes prey on young herons or eggs. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White-faced Heron? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is White-faced Heron? 60-70 cm ### What is White-faced Heron's wingspan? 100-110 cm ### How much does White-faced Heron weigh? 0.4-0.6 kg ### How long does White-faced Heron live? 10-15 years ### How fast can White-faced Heron move? 50 km/h ### What does White-faced Heron eat? They primarily eat small aquatic creatures like fish and frogs, caught with a quick strike. ### Where is White-faced Heron usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Poppy Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/poppy-park) — Florida, US · Nature Reserve ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [White-faced Heron: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-faced-heron)