Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)

✨ Key Features

• Rich rufous (nankeen) back and wings

• Pale grey underparts

• Striking red eye

• Stocky build with short neck

🌏 Habitat

Found across Australia, especially in:

• Wetlands and billabongs

• Rivers and lakes

• Mangroves and coastal areas

Often seen:

• Roosting in trees by day or feeding at dusk and night

⚡ What Makes It Special

A nocturnal hunter, most active at dusk and night when it feeds along water edges.

🧠 Summary

A stocky heron with a rufous back and red eye, usually seen near water and active at night.