The Nankeen Night Heron, Nycticorax caledonicus, also commonly referred to as the Rufous Night Heron, and in Melanesia as Melabaob, is a medium-sized heron.
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Distribution / Range
It is found throughout much of Australia except the arid inland, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Melanesia.
A small colony has also established near Wanganui, New Zealand
Description
The Nankeen Night Heron stands about 56 – 66cm tall.
It is not strictly nocturnal. It often feeds during the day, especially during wet weather.
Diet / Feeding
The bird is dependent on a diet of small fish, reptiles, insects and sometimes eggs.
It can be seen around freshwater rivers, lakes, bulrushes, estuaries, harbors and in residential fishponds for goldfish.
Calls / Vocalizations
Voice: Loud “K-oark”, deep-throated rumbling at roost.
Breeding
Nesting: Primarily breeds September – April. A nest platform is built of sticks in a high tree near water, in communal groups.
Eggs: 2-5 light green. Incubation 22 days. Fledge 42-49 days.
Status
Widespread throughout its large range, the Nankeen Night Heron is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened
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