White Heron (Egretta alba)
Kotuku

Size: 92 cm, 900 gm

Description: The largest all white heron in New Zealand. Long thin neck with distinctive kink towards the head. Breeding birds have long plumes extending beyond the tail, black bill and green skin around the eye. Non-breeding bird has yellow bill and yellower facial skin.

Habitat: Coastal wetlands and estuaries. Feeds on Okarito Lagoon when breeding at the Waitangiroto River.

Status: Protected rare native. 150-200 birds. Often supplemented by birds from Australia.

Breeding: Sep - Jan. Nests are built in crowns of tree ferns or in small trees. 3-5 eggs incubated by both sexes.

Where and how to photograph: The Waitangiroto river breeding colony is a great spot. Okarito Lagoon for feeding shots. Otherwise North Island estuaries in winter.

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