White-faced Heron
White-faced HeronWhite-faced HeronWhite-faced HeronWhite-faced Heron

White-faced Heron

Egretta novaehollandiae

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Rakiura National Park
246 Verified records at Rakiura National Park
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The white-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) also known as the white-fronted heron, and incorrectly as the grey heron, or blue crane, is a common bird throughout most of Australasia, including New Guinea, the islands of Torres Strait, Indonesia, New Zealand, and all but the driest areas of Australia. It is a medium-sized heron, pale, slightly bluish-grey, with yellow legs and white facial markings. It can be found almost anywhere near shallow water, fresh or salt, and although it is prompt to depart the scene on long, slow-beating wings if disturbed, it will boldly raid suburban fish ponds. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a White-faced Heron sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 246 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Rakiura National Park

Little Egret
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

<5% · Rare
Pacific Reef Heron
LC

Pacific Reef Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta sacra

Insufficient data
Ardea modesta

Ardea modesta

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea modesta

Insufficient data
Australasian Bittern
VU

Australasian Bittern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Botaurus poiciloptilus

Insufficient data
Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

Insufficient data
Royal Spoonbill
LC

Royal Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea regia

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
20–30
Apr
10–20
May
10–20
Jun
10–20
Jul
10–20
Aug
10–20
Sep
5–10
Oct
10–20
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
50–60%
2 Maria Island National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
40–50%
3 Wilsons Promontory National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
30–40%
4 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
30–40%
5 Freycinet National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
30–40%
6 Tongariro National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
20–30%
7 Booderee National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
20–30%
8 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
20–30%
9 Daintree National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
20–30%
10 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
20–30%
11 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
10–20%
12 Nitmiluk National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
13 Rakiura National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
10–20%
14 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
15 Kosciuszko National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
16 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
17 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
18 Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
5–10%
19 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
20 Springbrook National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
21 Noosa National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
22 Flinders Ranges National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
23 Litchfield National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
24 Lamington National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
25 Bali Barat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
Insufficient data
26 Arthur's Pass National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a White-faced Heron in Rakiura National Park?

About 17% of wildlife watchers report a White-faced Heron sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 246 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see White-faced Heron in Rakiura National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for White-faced Heron in Rakiura National Park in our monthly data.

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