Great Egret

Ardea alba

Genus · Great Herons and Egrets Family · Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
Observation tips Difficulty: EASY
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Lake wetlandsRiver

Look for a large, all-white bird with a yellow bill and black legs. The gape line (corner of the mouth) extends back past the eye.

Great Egret
Stats
Wingspan140–170 cm
Weight700–1500 g
Length85–100 cm
Lifespan wild10–15 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typePlatform
Clutch size3–5 eggs
Incubation25–28 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationPartial migratory
Social BehaviourColonial

Diet: Carnivore

🐟Fish
🐸Amphibians
🦗Insects
🐭Mammals

Habitat

🛶 Lake wetlands🌊 Marine🌾 Marsh🏞️ River
✦ Fun Fact

In the late 19th century, Great Egrets were nearly hunted to extinction for their feathers. This sparked the first modern bird conservation movements.

About

A large, fully white heron. It is nearly the size of a Grey Heron but has a more slender neck and a heavier bill. Its population has increased dramatically in Europe over recent decades. It has expanded from the southeast into central and western regions. It lives in various wetlands. Its brilliant white plumage makes it highly visible from a distance.

Behaviour

The Great Egret is a patient hunter. It stands motionless in shallow water or slowly stalks through reeds. It strikes with lightning speed to catch fish, frogs, or insects. During the breeding season, they develop long plumes on their backs called 'aigrettes'. They display these plumes during courtship rituals in communal colonies.

Similar species

Little Egret
🐦
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Grey Heron
🐦
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
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