Eastern Reef Heron

1. Bird Name

The English name for this bird is the Eastern Reef Heron (sometimes referred to as the Pacific Reef Heron), while its Latin name is Egretta sacra.

2. Appearance

Sporting two different forms known as morphs, the Eastern Reef Heron’s appearance varies. The dark morph is primarily a grey-blue to slate-gray color with dark legs and bill. The white morph is as described, pure white with a yellowish bill. Both morphs have broad, rounded wings and a distinctive, kinked neck. Their eyes exhibit a strikingly bright yellow tint, contrasting with the darker morph’s overall plumage. The Eastern Reef Heron’s beak is noticeably long and slender. There’s little to no notable difference in physical appearance between males and females.

3. Size

An average Eastern Reef heron measures approximately 60–65 cm (23.6–25.6 inches) in length from bill tip to tail part. Their wingspan extends to about 90-110 cm (35.4-43.3 inches). They are typically within the weight range of 400-550 grams.

4. Habitat & Distribution

Eastern Reef Herons are widely spread across Australia, New Zealand, and the western Pacific Ocean countries, including Indonesia, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. They thrive in coastal habitats, with a tendency to settle in rocky and coral islets, beaches, and mangroves.

5. Interesting Facts

These solitary birds usually forage individually, displaying a unique hunting behavior where they spread their wings to form a canopy, thus creating shadows that invite prey. They are also known to be exceptional flyers, capable of long-distance travel. Despite their coastal preference, they sometimes migrate inland. The Eastern Reef Heron signifies peace in certain cultures, due to its quiet and serene nature.

6. Diet

As their name suggests, Eastern Reef Herons typically feed on reef inhabitants such as small fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and marine invertebrates.

7. Behavior & Sounds

Primarily silent, the Eastern Reef Heron will occasionally make a harsh croaking sound or softer grunting noise. A bizarre and interesting behavior of this bird is its solitary feeding method, ‘canopy feeding’, creating shade and luring prey. They’re also adaptive nesters, often choosing to nest in varied locations including low shrubs, cliffs, and ground cavities.

8. Conservation Status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Eastern Reef Heron as a species of ‘Least Concern.’ Although present in many protected areas, their populations may be affected by human disturbance or loss of suitable habitats, warranting continual monitoring.

9. Lifespan

The lifespan of an Eastern Reef Heron averages 12 years in the wild. Information about its lifespan in captivity is relatively scarce.

10. Additional Notes

Known as ‘matu awi’ in the local language of the Solomon Islands, the Eastern Reef Heron is considered a totem species by some indigenous cultures. While they generally avoid human interaction, they can be somewhat domesticated in regions that prohibit hunting. Additionally, their feeding patterns contribute significantly to maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems by controlling the population of certain species there.