western australia

nankeen night heron

A Nankeen night heron

@JudyEv (339355)

Rockingham, Australia

November 25, 2022 3:22am CST

I wrote once about Nankeen night herons (Nycticorax caledonicus) but had to use a photo from Wikimedia. Now I have an adequate photo of my own. We saw several at our last house-sit. This one was on the decking at the front of the house. It and Pepper regarded each other for a while but neither considered the other a threat and they each went their separate ways. They are supposed to emerge at twilight and roost during the day but we’ve seen them early afternoon here. They have a large head but short neck so much of the time they look very round-shouldered. They are also known as the ‘rufous night heron’ because of the rich cinnamon-coloured upperparts. He does look hunched over, doesn’t he?

17 people like this

17 responses

@DaddyEvil (137256)

• United States

25 Nov 22

He looks like he wants to take a bite of something right in front of him...

3 people like this

@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

There wasn't much to eat right there but I guess he's watching for a fish.

1 person likes this

@DaddyEvil (137256)

• United States

26 Nov 22

@JudyEv Is he close to the water there? It looks like he's holding onto a railing of some type.

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@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

@DaddyEvil Yes, he was on a bridge. I got photos of a different one on the private jetty but this one was on a footbridge.

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@Beestring (14516)

• Hong Kong

25 Nov 22

I like the colors of its feathers.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

He's not bright but he sort of looks distinguished.

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@Beestring (14516)

• Hong Kong

26 Nov 22

@JudyEv I agree.

1 person likes this

@rebelann (112770)

• El Paso, Texas

26 Nov 22

That's a fairly large bird but I've never seen one before, I doubt we ever get them here. Yeah, he does look kinda hunched over.

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@rebelann (112770)

• El Paso, Texas

26 Nov 22

That explains it. Sometimes I wish dad had taken an assignment somewhere that had lakes and such, oh well, at least I live in a relatively safe area weatherwise.

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@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

@rebelann 'Safe' is very, very good!

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@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

They're water birds so you may not have them there.

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@DWDavis (25805)

• United States

25 Nov 22

He does seem hunched and his tail feathers look very short. Is that a trick of the angle of the photo or do these birds have short tail feathers.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

They do have a stumpy tail. He looks 'old' hunched over like that.

1 person likes this

@Fleura (30326)

• United Kingdom

25 Nov 22

They look as if they might overbalance because of their lack of much tail! Cool that he came to visit.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

The tail is very stumpy. I just like their hunched look.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317040)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

25 Nov 22

He's a beautiful bird. I'm glad you got a good picture of him. Thanks for the info on him.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

You're welcome. I'm glad I have my own photo of him now.

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (160600)

• United States

26 Nov 22

Hunched over, and bob tailed. Not at all like one would expect a heron to look. The colors are rich, though.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

Like cats and dogs, maybe there are all sorts of herons

@allknowing (135836)

• India

26 Nov 22

It looked like it was not afraid of the camera A beautiful capture!!.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

He was quite tame really. We got quite close to him.

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@RebeccasFarm (89832)

• Arvada, Colorado

25 Nov 22

He does look hunched. What a treat to see him Judy thanks.

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@RebeccasFarm (89832)

• Arvada, Colorado

26 Nov 22

@JudyEv A lovely fellow

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@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

I'm glad I know have my own photo of him. He seemed quite tame really.

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@LadyDuck (471217)

• Switzerland

25 Nov 22

I like their cinnamon colour, it looks like he should lose the balance, but he is strongly attached to the railing.

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@LadyDuck (471217)

• Switzerland

26 Nov 22

@JudyEv He looks as he was a bit worried.

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@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

@LadyDuck Yes, I think so too - as though he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

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@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

He has big feet too which no doubt help.

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@wolfgirl569 (105773)

• Marion, Ohio

25 Nov 22

He does. I like the different colors

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@wolfgirl569 (105773)

• Marion, Ohio

26 Nov 22

@JudyEv The multiple is what makes it interesting. I see white, brown and a grayish

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@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

The colours are a bit drab but he's still attractive.

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@RubyHawk (99405)

• Atlanta, Georgia

26 Nov 22

Yes, he does look hunched over. He's a weird looking bird, or I should say, he doesn't look anything like birds I see.

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@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

I was quite excited when I saw my first one a year or two ago. I had no idea what it was.

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@RubyHawk (99405)

• Atlanta, Georgia

26 Nov 22

@JudyEv It looks like a large bird.

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@LindaOHio (177638)

• United States

25 Nov 22

He has pretty colored feathers.

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@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

He looks like an old man in a way.

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@LindaOHio (177638)

• United States

26 Nov 22

@JudyEv lol Yes he does.

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Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26777)

• United States

26 Nov 22

Nice, he posed for you. Long legs and yes a very short neck. He does seem a bit hunched.

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@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

He has a short tail too. And not very colourful.

1 person likes this

Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26777)

• United States

26 Nov 22

@JudyEv Yes, like a sparrow, not much color, but a cute fellow.

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@popciclecold (38586)

• United States

25 Nov 22

So many different kinds of birds. Thanks for sharing.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

He is not the most brightly coloured but still quite attractive.

@BarBaraPrz (47231)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

25 Nov 22

Too bad 'birdman' ratcliffe isn't here anymore to appreciate this.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

Yes, I hate it when people leave. And often without warning.

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@Tampa_girl7 (50170)

• United States

25 Nov 22

What long legs.

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@JudyEv (339355)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Nov 22

And big feet too!