Western Reef-Heron

Gangly heron with significant variation in plumage. Distinct dark morph is slate-gray with a white throat, while the palest morph is white with a yellow bill and lores. Pale gray intermediate morphs can also be found. Little Egret can look similar, but it has a darker bill than the white morph of the Western Reef-Heron. Primarily a coastal inhabitant, foraging on shorelines and in estuaries, but can also be found at some inland water bodies.

The western reef heron is a coastal bird that visits Sri Lanka during the non-breeding season. It is found in coastal lagoons, mangroves, estuaries, and shores, mainly in the north.

In Sri Lanka, the Western Reef Heron primarily feeds on fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, with a particular preference for mudskippers in coastal areas where they are commonly found; essentially, their diet consists of small marine life found in shallow waters like estuaries and muddy flats.