The Pied Heron is a distinctive black and white wading bird found mainly across northern Australia, but it can occasionally be seen further south in New South Wales, particularly in coastal wetlands.
It is recognised by its stark white head, neck and underparts contrasted with black wings and back, along with long dark legs and a sharp bill for hunting fish and aquatic invertebrates. Pied Herons favour mangroves, tidal flats, estuaries and shallow lagoons, where they stalk prey slowly through the water.
Quiet and deliberate in its movements, it is a striking species when encountered outside its more usual tropical range.
Photographed in Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve, WA