Great-billed Heron

Ardea sumatrana

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of South & Southeast Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Indonesia Birds of Malaysia Birds of the Philippines Birds of Thailand Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of Western Australia

By family

Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Australia Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Indonesia Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Malaysia Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of the Philippines Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Thailand Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Northern Territory Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Queensland Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Western Australia

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The Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Pelecaniformes
Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
Genus Ardea
Species sumatrana

Where it lives

Southeastern Asia and western Philippines to northern Australia and New Guinea

Quick facts

Weight: 2 kg
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Ardeidae
Order: Pelecaniformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Great-billed Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Great-billed Heron is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana) is a member of the Ardeidae family, within the order Pelecaniformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, AU se Asia and w Philippines to n Australia and New Guinea.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2 kg, with a wing length of about 45.4 cm and a tail of around 16 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.8 million km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Great-billed Heron?

The Great-billed Heron is a very large bird that weighs around 2 kg.

Where does the Great-billed Heron live?

The Great-billed Heron is found across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, AU se Asia and w Philippines to n Australia and New Guinea, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Great-billed Heron belong to?

The Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.

What does the Great-billed Heron eat?

The Great-billed Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Great-billed Heron migrate?

The Great-billed Heron is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Great-billed Heron endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

How large is the Great-billed Heron's range?

The Great-billed Heron has a mapped global range of about 1.8 million km².