A classic bird with interesting habits
Four species of herons are known to breed in New Zealand. They all have long legs and a spear-like bill.
The rare white heron is the largest and easily recognised.
In the Wanganui area there is a population of around 60 nankeen night herons with a distinctive reddish brown colouring and around our coasts is the dark grey reef heron.
More wide spread than these three herons is the white faced heron which is illustrated in the photograph and often given wrong names such as grey heron and blue heron.
Being our most common heron, the white faced heron deserves special mention.
With its distinctive white face, and blue-grey plumage, it’s easily recognised and shouldn’t be confused with any of the other herons.
It’s found in almost any aquatic habitats.
Beaches, estuaries, rivers and streams are favoured areas and after heavy rain that brings worms to the surface it will move into parks, playing fields and other grassed areas. It was self introduced into NZ early in the 1940s.
The white faced heron has some interesting feeding techniques.
Often it will be seen slowly stalking its prey which can include small fish, frogs, mice and insects.
At times it will actively chase after its prey and perhaps its most interesting technique is called foot raking when it stands in one leg and uses the other leg to rake through under water debris to disturb small creatures which are quickly speared and eaten.
When roosting the white faced heron is a tree dweller.
It favours tall pine and macrocarpa trees and in the breeding season builds a platform like nest high in the same trees.