Snowy Egret

Overview

The snowy egret (Egretta thula) is a small white heron native to the Americas. It is the New World counterpart to the Old World little egret and has recovered from historic population declines caused by plume hunting.

Identification

• Entirely white plumage with long, shaggy breeding plumes on the nape and neck.
• Yellow lores between the long black bill and the eye, paired with black legs and bright yellow feet.
• Immature birds possess duller, greenish legs.
• Measures 56–66 cm in length with a wingspan of 100 cm.

Habitat

Native to North, Central and South America, this species resides in wetlands such as marshes, riverbanks, lakesides, salt marshes and estuaries. It is a permanent resident in South America, the West Indies, Florida, and coastal North and Central America, while migrating within the southern United States elsewhere. It avoids high altitudes and is rarely found on the coast.

Diet

Snowy egrets consume a diverse diet of fish, crustaceans, insects, small reptiles, snails, amphibians and worms. They forage by stalking prey in shallow water, often using head swaying, wing flicking or bill vibrating to flush out prey, and may also 'dip-fish' by hovering low over the water surface.

Did you know?

The species name thula originates from the Mapudungun word for the black-necked swan, a name applied to the snowy egret in error by Chilean naturalist Juan Ignacio Molina in 1782.