Nankeen Night-Heron

Bird

The Nankeen Night-Heron is a nocturnal wading bird native to Australasia and Southeast Asia. Distinguished by its rufous-brown plumage and short legs, it inhabits wetlands and mangroves, feeding on aquatic invertebrates and small fish. This adaptable species nests in colonies, often in trees near water, contributing to wetland biodiversity.

---

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Nycticorax caledonicus

FAMILY:

Ardeidae

NATIONAL CONSERVATION STATUS:

Least Concern

---

Fun Fact:

Despite being mostly nocturnal, they sometimes hunt during the day when food is abundant, especially during breeding season. Additionally, their chicks have a quirky defence mechanism: they regurgitate their stomach contents to deter predators!