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;Ardea picata | ;Ardea picata | ||
| − | [[Image:Pied_Heron.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Pied_Heron.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by RMD]] |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Pied Heron | + | It is a small heron, with dark slaty wings, body and crested head, with a white throat and neck. Immature birds lack the crest as well as the dark colouring on the head and may look like small versions of the White-necked Heron. |
| − | + | ==Distribution== | |
| − | + | The Pied Heron, Ardea picata, is found in coastal and subcoastal areas of monsoonal northern Australia as well as some parts of Wallacea and New Guinea. Discontinuous range from in southern Borneo and Sulawesi, western and southern New Guinea and northern coastal areas of Australia from the eastern Kimberleys to Queensland and south to about Townsville. Resident in some areas but in others appears to undergo long-distance movements. May be a non-breeding visitor outside Australia. Vagrants recorded at various localities in eastern Australia. | |
| − | + | ==Taxonomy== | |
| − | + | ==Habitat== | |
| + | |||
| + | Its habitat mainly comprises a range of wetlands and wet grasslands. Lakes and swamps, sewage ponds and farmland, estuaries, mudflats and mangroves. | ||
| + | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | It feeds on insects and other small aquatic animals. It nests in trees, including mangroves, often colonially with other species of heron. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&si=Ardea%20picata&what=allfields&name=&when=&whenterm= View more images of Pied Heron in the gallery] | *[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&si=Ardea%20picata&what=allfields&name=&when=&whenterm= View more images of Pied Heron in the gallery] | ||
*[http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&fid=49&bid=646 View more images of this species on the ABID] | *[http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&fid=49&bid=646 View more images of this species on the ABID] | ||
[[Category:Birds]] | [[Category:Birds]] | ||
Revision as of 16:34, 27 July 2007
- Ardea picata
Identification
It is a small heron, with dark slaty wings, body and crested head, with a white throat and neck. Immature birds lack the crest as well as the dark colouring on the head and may look like small versions of the White-necked Heron.
Distribution
The Pied Heron, Ardea picata, is found in coastal and subcoastal areas of monsoonal northern Australia as well as some parts of Wallacea and New Guinea. Discontinuous range from in southern Borneo and Sulawesi, western and southern New Guinea and northern coastal areas of Australia from the eastern Kimberleys to Queensland and south to about Townsville. Resident in some areas but in others appears to undergo long-distance movements. May be a non-breeding visitor outside Australia. Vagrants recorded at various localities in eastern Australia.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Its habitat mainly comprises a range of wetlands and wet grasslands. Lakes and swamps, sewage ponds and farmland, estuaries, mudflats and mangroves.
Behaviour
It feeds on insects and other small aquatic animals. It nests in trees, including mangroves, often colonially with other species of heron.
