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Western Reef Heron
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Habitat and behaviour
Habitat: Estuaries (very rare).
Diet: Fish.
Best time to spot: Dark form often.
When to look
A rare visitor, not a resident. There is no dependable season, though most rarities are found during spring and autumn migration. More on the season in Rare birds in the UK.
How rare is it?
The Western Reef Heron sits in our Legendary tier for the UK: a major rarity, where any record is big news. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.
Recent UK sightings
No community sightings logged for this species yet. Log the first one.
Similar birds
- Snowy EgretLegendary · Coastal pools (very rare vagrant)
- Little EgretUncommon · Estuaries
- Greater Sand PloverLegendary · Estuaries (very rare vagrant)
- Lesser Sand PloverLegendary · Estuaries (very rare vagrant)
- Short-billed DowitcherLegendary · Estuaries (very rare vagrant)
- American BitternLegendary · Reedbeds (very rare vagrant)
Kit that helps
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