White-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
White-faced herons occur throughout Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand. They are a relatively new species in New Zealand, having self-introduced in the 1940s. From the 1950s onwards numbers have grown rapidly and they are now widespread throughout the country, including the Chatham Islands. It is primarily a bird of rocky shores and estuary mudflats, but can also be found near the shallow edges of lakes up to 500 m altitude, and on farm ponds. Following rain, white-faced herons are often seen in damp pasture and on sports fields, including within urban areas.
White-faced herons have been recorded as vagrants at the Kermadec Islands, Snares Islands, Antipodes Island, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island. Original public domain image from Flickr