Pacific Reef Heron

Pacific Reef Heron (Egretta sacra) is a medium-sized coastal heron occurring in contrasting slate-grey and pure-white colour forms, with the sexes similar in appearance. Body shape, bill structure, plumage pattern and voice provide the strongest field characters. Age, sex and season may alter its appearance, so identification should combine several features and careful direct field comparisons with similar species in the same habitat (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is strongly tied to rocky shores, reefs and tidal flats, where it stalks or waits for fish, crabs and other marine animals exposed in shallow water. Its movements and social behaviour vary through the year, with breeding birds generally more dispersed and non-breeding birds gathering where food is concentrated. Japanese records place it within the country's documented avifauna as a resident, migrant or visitor (Wikipedia, general species account; Wildlife of Japan occurrence records).