Key Identification Features
- Juveniles have similar plumage to adults, but are somewhat paler with less distinct markings.
- Goliath herons produce a distinctive deep bark-like call, most often described as kowoork, that can be heard from distances up to 2 km.
- Most of its body is slate-grey to black, and it has distinctive black spots in the center of its lower fore-neck and throat.
- obscurus is the most distinct subspecies, and is clearly darker than N.
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