Distribution Map
Pied Heron
Egretta picata
NativeStatus
CommonRarity
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Species Description
The Pied Heron (*Egretta picata*), sometimes called the pied egret, is a small, eye-catching waterbird found across northern Australia’s tropical wetlands, as well as parts of New Guinea and Indonesia. Unlike many solitary herons, Pied Herons are often seen in groups, especially in wetlands during the wet season, where their social gatherings can be quite a spectacle.
Fun Facts
During courtship, the bill and legs become brighter yellow and the eyes turn orange-red.
1. Black cap with long head plumes
2. Sharp contrast between dark upperparts and white neck
3. Yellow bill and legs
Pied Herons mainly eat aquatic insects, but also feed on frogs, fish, and crustaceans. They forage both alone and in flocks, often moving actively rather than standing still. Breeding occurs during the wet season (February–April), when they nest colonially in trees above water, often with other waterbirds. Nests are shallow platforms of sticks, and colonies can be very large-sometimes thousands of nest. Outside the breeding season, some populations migrate to New Guinea and Indonesia.
Pied Herons inhabit coastal and near-coastal wetlands across northern Australia, especially the Top End, and extend into southern New Guinea and parts of Indonesia. They are commonly seen in mangroves, mudflats, freshwater swamps, and even artificial wetlands like rice fields and sewage ponds. They usually stay within 1 km of the coast but have been recorded at higher elevations in New Guinea.
Physical Attributes
Height
49 cm
Size Relative to Other Birds86%
Top Locations
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