Ardeidae

Stooped heron with a largish head. Crown and nape black, dark-cinnamon above, creamy-white below washed buff.

Nocturnal. Carrier of virus for Murray Valley encephalitis. Roosts by day communally in leafy trees, usually near water.

Wetlands Forest, Mainly nocturnal. Permanent and semi-permanent fresh and brackish waters. Mangroves; rainforest; inland water and fringing forest.

September October November December January (but usually all year), 2 to 3; pale bluish-green. , nest a loose leaf-lined platform of sticks in a tree or shrub. Incubation about 3 wks by both sexes, young fledge 7 wks. Each pair mate only for the season and only raise a single brood.

Kakadu National Park

Carnivore, Yabbies; freshwater molluscs; frogs; aquatic insects.