Slender blue-grey heron. Heavy slow flight, neck retracted unless alarmed. Perches on trees and posts. Identify from grey morph of Eastern Reef Egret. The bill is dark brown, paler at base of mandible. Face to just behind the eye, chin, white. Pale chestnut hackles on lower neck; lanceolate plumes on back. Upperparts and wings grey, belly paler. Flight feathers dark grey. Legs are yellow-green. It is common and Sedentary-Nomadic. Plumes and hackles reduced or absent. Size: 66-68cm.
Juvenile: Face is grey or with white only on its chin. Dull fawn to brown wash on grey plumage; belly whitish or pale buff. Legs are also paler. Voice: Harsh croaks. Habitat: Pasture, farm dams, parkland, most wetlands including intertidal flats. Adapts to most urban areas.
