Eastern reef-egret

Egretta sacra

Photo by Peter Strauss (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:

eastern reef-egret (en); garça-dos-recifes-oriental (pt); aigrette sacrée (fr); garceta costera oriental (es); riffreiher (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Ciconiiformes

Family Ardeidae

Range:

This species is found along the western Pacific coast, from Japan down to Thailand and all the way to Bangladesh and India. Then south, through Indonesia and Papua-New Guinea, and into Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and many islands in Polynesia.

Size:

The eastern reef-egret is 57-66 cm long and has a wingspan of 90-110 cm. These birds weigh 400 g.

Habitat:

These birds live on beaches, rocky shores, tidal rivers and inlets, mangroves, and exposed coral reefs.

Diet:

Eastern reef-egrets mostly eat fish, molluscs and crustaceans.

Breeding:

These birds can breed all year round, nesting in colonies in the jungle, between palms and mangroves or in cavities of old buildings. The nest is a platform made of sticks, twigs and leaves and lined with seaweed. There the female lays 2-4 green-blue eggs which are incubated by both parents for 25-28 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 5-6 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status – LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and a global population of 100.000-1.000.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.