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White-necked Heron

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Habitat: Wetland, Marine, Grassland

Habitat

Although White-necked Herons are sometimes seen in tidal areas, most are found in shallow fresh waters, including farm dams, flooded pastures, claypans, and even roadside ditches.

Behaviour

Like other herons, the White-necked Heron has a special hinge mechanism at the sixth vertebra that allows them to rapidly extend its folded neck and so catch unwary prey. White-necked Herons have regular winter or spring movements in many areas, but little is known of their patterns of movement.

Feeding

White-necked Herons feed by wading in shallow water or stalking through wet grass looking for fish, amphibians, crustaceans and insects.

Breeding

White-necked Herons will breed in any month of the year in response to good rain, but most breeding occurs between September and December. The nest is a loose platform in a living tree such as a river red gum near or over water. The nests may be solitary or in loose colonies. Eggs are incubated by both parents.