General Description
Upper body red-brown, underparts white, top of head black. When breeding: two plumes of long narrow white feathers on back of the head. Young birds streaked cream and brown with white spots on the wing. Body up to 65 cm long.
Biology
Nankeen Night-herons are a nocturnal species and are active from dusk until dawn.
Habitat
Freshwater wetlands and swamps.
Coastal shores
Distribution guide
Australia.
Species Group
Max Size
65 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Commercial Species
Yes
Global Dispersal
Native to Australia
Conservation Status
- DSE Advisory List : Near Threatened
- EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
- IUCN Red List : Least Concern
Author
Wayne Longmore is a Senior Collection manager of terrestrial vertebrates at Museum Victoria.
Author
Rory O'Brien is a Collection Manager of terrestrial vertebrates at Museum Victoria.
Cite this page as:
Longmore, N. W. & O'Brien, R., 2011, Nankeen Night-heron, Nycticorax caledonicus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 10 Dec 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7865
