The pied heron (Egretta picata), also known as the pied egret[4] is a bird found in coastal and subcoastal areas of monsoonal northern Australia as well as some parts of Wallacea and New Guinea.

[5] It is a small heron, 43–55 cm long, with dark slaty wings, body, and crested head, with a white throat and neck.

[6] Immature birds lack the crest as well as the dark colouring on the head and may look like small versions of the white-necked heron.

[4] It nests in trees above the water, including mangroves, often colonially with other species of heron.

[4] It feeds on insects, frogs, crabs, fish and other small aquatic animals.