The White-necked Heron is distributed throughout Australia except the dry centre-west and is found in shallow wetlands, flooded pasture and farm dams as in this case. It is rarely seen in tidal waters. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

It is about the same size as Great Egret Ardea alba as can be seen in photo 1. It has a long white head and neck and slate-grey wings and body. In breeding plumage it loses the black spots on the front of the neck and develops plum-coloured plumes on the back and breast.