Striated Heron

1. Black cap with blue-grey back and pale, streaked neck

2. Short legs and hunched, squat posture

3. Often seen standing motionless at the water’s edge

Striated Herons are opportunistic feeders, eating small fish, crustaceans, insects, and molluscs. They are famous for their use of bait-dropping items like insects or feathers onto the water to lure fish. Breeding occurs in trees or shrubs near water, with both parents building a simple stick nest and sharing incubation duties. In northern Australia, breeding is mainly from November to April, while in the south it occurs from September to January. Clutches typically contain 2–5 pale blue or greenish eggs.

Striated Herons are widespread along Australia’s tropical and subtropical coastlines, from Shark Bay in Western Australia, across the north, to Victoria in the southeast. They are most common in the north and tend to become scarcer further south. Look for them in mangroves, tidal flats, estuaries, and sometimes around marinas or boat ramps. They are most active at dawn and dusk, usually alone and close to the water, often perched low over the water or creeping along muddy banks.