Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pacific Reef Heron
Egretta sacra
Pacific Reef Heron (Egretta sacra) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pacific Reef Heron (Egretta sacra) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 502 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
- Genus Egretta
- Species sacra
Where it lives
Coastal southern Bangladesh and Andaman Is. to Ryukyu Is. (southern Japan), Australasia (except southern outlying is.), Melanesia to Tuamotu Arch. (eastern Polynesia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 502 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pacific Reef Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Pacific Reef Heron is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Pacific Reef Heron (Egretta sacra) is a species of bird in the Ardeidae family, part of the order Pelecaniformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, AU coastal s Bangladesh and Andaman Is. to Ryukyu Is. (s Japan), Australasia (except s outlying is.), Melanesia to Tuamotu Arch. (e Polynesia).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 502 g, with a wing length of about 26.3 cm and a tail of around 8.6 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 4.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pacific Reef Heron?
The Pacific Reef Heron is a large bird that weighs around 502 g.
Where does the Pacific Reef Heron live?
The Pacific Reef Heron is found across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, AU coastal s Bangladesh and Andaman Is. to Ryukyu Is. (s Japan), Australasia (except s outlying is.), Melanesia to Tuamotu Arch. (e Polynesia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Pacific Reef Heron belong to?
The Pacific Reef Heron (Egretta sacra) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Pacific Reef Heron eat?
The Pacific Reef Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Pacific Reef Heron migrate?
The Pacific Reef Heron is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Pacific Reef 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.
What sound does the Pacific Reef Heron make?
1 real field recording of the Pacific Reef Heron — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Pacific Reef Heron's range?
The Pacific Reef Heron has a mapped global range of about 4.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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