Medium Egret

Medium Egret

Scientific Name: Ardea intermedia

Malay Name: Bangau Sederhana

Chinese Name: 中白鹭

Range: Found from sub-Saharan Africa, Indian subcontinent, southern China, Korea, Japan, Indochina, Indonesia to Australia with most northerly populations winter to Southeast Asia.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 65-72 cm

Identification: Non-breeding adult is distinguished from similar looking Great Egret by smaller size, considerably shorter bill, shorter and less distinctly kinked neck. Also resembles Eastern Cattle Egret but much larger, has thinner neck and longer/darker legs. Breeding adult has longish plumes at back and breast, yellowish bill sometimes with black on tip and ridge of upper mandible. Juvenile resemble non-breeding adult.

Similar looking species: Eastern Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Little Egret, Pacific Reef Heron, Chinese Egret

Habitat: Various inland freshwater habitats, marshy grasslands and occasionally mangroves and mudflats.

Behaviour/Ecology: Often hunts and roosts with other egrets species and herons.

Local Status: Common migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2020)

Location: Kranji Marsh, Punggol Barat, Seletar Grassland, Sungei Buloh and any other suitable patch of habitat.

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Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Medium Egret Ardea intermedia
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Jan 01-Jan 07
Early date 01 Jul 2023
Late date 30 Jun 2024
Most egret species, including this one, have a significant number of oversummering birds present year-round. This species is similar, while the winter months are when the largest numbers are observed.

References:

BirdLife International. (2020). Ardea intermedia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22727668A181757896.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

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