White-faced Heron

In adults, most of the plumage is blue-grey. The crown, forehead, ear coverts, chin and upper throat are white. A tuft of light brown to bronze coloured feathers is found at the bas of the neck and the upper breast. Long lanceolated feathers decorate the central part of the bird's back, but these do not extend beyond the tip of the tail. The lower part of the body are grey. From below, the black-tipped primaries and the coverts, that have a white center and a grey border, all contribute to giving the wings a barred aspect. The bill is usually black, but the base of the lower mandible can be of a lighter grey and the tip sport a yellow mark. The lore is blue-grey or yellow-green. The iris go from lead grey to a dull yellow. The legs are either a greenish yellow or rufus-coloured. The variation in colour of the non-feathered parts might be linked to either sex, age or seasonal variation. Some albinistic forms have been observed.

Juveniles do not have the bronzed coloured plumage on the throat and breast. The grey feathers are few in numbers and the underparts are mostly brownish. The parryi subspecies has a darker body (both under and upperparts). In New Caledonia, individuals are smaller (on average 8cm less). In Western Australia, birds are also smaller but the different is not so clearly marked as to warrant their classification as a distinct species.
This egret resembles the Grey Heron, but the white face and the bronzed breast are diagnostic. The barred aspect of the wings allows to distinguish this species from a dark phase Pacific Reef Heron.