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

White-faced Heron

Egretta novaehollandiae

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Great Otway National Park
919 Verified records at Great Otway National Park
April 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 →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a White-faced Heron sighting in Great Otway National Park, based on 919 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Great Otway National Park

intermediate egret

intermediate egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta intermedia

<5% · Rare
Little Egret
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

<5% · Rare
Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

10–20% · With luck
White-necked Heron
LC

White-necked Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea pacifica

5–10% · With luck
Ardea modesta

Ardea modesta

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea modesta

5–10% · With luck
Nankeen Night-Heron
LC

Nankeen Night-Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nycticorax caledonicus

<5% · Rare
Australasian Bittern
VU

Australasian Bittern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Botaurus poiciloptilus

Insufficient data
Australian Pelican
LC

Australian Pelican

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pelecanus conspicillatus

10–20% · With luck
Australian White Ibis

Australian White Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Threskiornis molucca

5–10% · With luck
Royal Spoonbill
LC

Royal Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea regia

5–10% · With luck
Straw-necked Ibis
LC

Straw-necked Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Threskiornis spinicollis

<5% · Rare
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
LC Endemic

Yellow-billed Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea flavipes

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
20–30
Feb
30–40
Mar
40–50
Apr
30–40
May
30–40
Jun
30–40
Jul
40–50
Aug
20–30
Sep
30–40
Oct
20–30
Nov
30–40
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 Great Otway National Park?

About 32% of wildlife watchers report a White-faced Heron sighting in Great Otway National Park, based on 919 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

April has the highest sighting rate for White-faced Heron in Great Otway National Park in our monthly data.

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