Black Heron vs Western Reef-Heron

In short

The Black Heron and Western Reef-Heron can be distinguished by their behavior and plumage. The Black Heron is known for its unique 'umbrella' hunting technique, while the Western Reef-Heron exhibits more variation in plumage, including both dark and white morphs.

Identification tips

1. Look for the 'umbrella' hunting technique to identify the Black Heron. 2. Note the plumage: a white morph indicates a Western Reef-Heron. 3. Observe the overall coloration: uniformly dark suggests a Black Heron, unless the Western Reef-Heron is in its dark morph.

Plumage

The Black Heron is uniformly dark, while the Western Reef-Heron can appear in both dark and white morphs. This variation in the Western Reef-Heron makes plumage a key identifier when the white morph is observed.

Behaviour

The Black Heron is famous for its 'umbrella' hunting technique, where it uses its wings to create shade over the water, attracting fish. The Western Reef-Heron does not exhibit this behavior.