Is this an intermediate egret or a white heron? (1 Viewer)

[Eastbirder]

Hello to any readers. I live in New Zealand, unlike most of you, I suspect, and there is an unusual case in my hands.

Near where I live is a very small estuary. From 2011 to mid-late 2012, there was a white heron (far from common in NZ) that was seemingly resident there, before eventually disappearing.

A short while ago, the bird seemingly returned to the estuary, to my surprise, and I reported in on the local forum. However, while I think that it is the same bird as before, several others assume that it is an intermediate egret. Intermediate egrets have occurred only a numbered amount of times in New Zealand, and I am trying to convince others that it is not one. Australia has both birds occurring much more commonly, so it is assumed that you people will know better than me.

Here is a link. I would be very grateful for any help.
http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2615

 

[eddy the eagle]

Not being familiar with egrets "down under" if I saw this bird locally to me I would definitely call it a great egret Casmerodius Alba.The apparent bill length discrepancy in the two head photos is due to shadow .....Eddy

 

[Eastbirder]

*Ardea alba/Egretta alba/Egretta alba modesta/Ardea alba modesta.

Much obliged, but this was aimed at any Australian users.

 

[Hanno]

I am not an Aussie, but live in Cambodia where both birds are regular. I do agree that these are two separate birds and, without being able to tell the size, would assume that the second bird is Intermediate. Rounder head, dagger-like bill, and bare skin parts not extending beyond the eye. But again, size is the real clincher, with Intermediate being nowhere near as big as Great Egret/White Heron.

 

[Eastbirder]

Is gigantism possible in birds?

 

[John_WA]

Not an easy one this. The latest photos posted by ledzep look better for Great to my eye, with a relatively flattened head and prominent gape, and his description of size (much bigger than Royal Spoonbill) also fits Great better. The earlier photos are more ambiguous but also harder to interpret as the bird is hunched up. I would say the gape is a little on the short side for a Great Egret, but not out of range, and longer than I would expect on most Intermediates

So a difficult bird, and not surprising some people are going for Intermediate, but my tentative ID would be Great Egret (or White Heron for you guys).

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Hi Eastbirder. Can't help with the ID, but I'd suggest posting it on the bird id forum to get a wider audience. Great and Intermediate Egrets both have a very large range way beyond Australasia, and there may be some egret experts out there that will otherwise miss this thread.