Chinese Egret

Chinese Egret
This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Egretta eulophotes

Malay Name: Bangau Cina

Chinese Name: 黄嘴白鹭

Range: Found from southeast China to Korea, wintering in Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 68 cm

Identification: Non-breeding adult resembles other egret species but can be distinguished by greenish legs and yellowish-orange lower mandible. Breeding adult has all yellowish-orange bill, shaggy nuchal crest, blue facial skin, blackish legs with yellowish-orange feet.

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

Habitat: Mudflats and other coastal habitats

Behaviour/Ecology: Feeds actively. Often runs, flies and darts across mudflats in search of food

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2016)

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, May 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Mar 2023, Apr 2023, May 2023, Mar 2024, Apr 2024

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes
Average number of individuals by week based on Singapore Bird Database data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024 (all records)
Peak week Mar 26-Apr 01
Early date 06 Aug 2016
Late date 01 Jun 2017
Most records recently have come from Chek Jawa; the largest numbers are usually recorded in the spring months.
Chinese Egret in non-breeding plumage at Pulau Ubin. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Chinese Egret in non-breeding pluamge at SBWR. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Chinese Egret in non-breeding plumage at Pulau Ubin. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Chinese Egret in breeding plumage at Thailand. Photo credit: Wong Lee Hong
Chinese Egret at Chek Jawa. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Chinese Egret at Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Chinese Egret in non-breeding plumage at Pulau Ubin. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Chinese Egret)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Egretta eulophotes. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22696977A93596047.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

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

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Chinese Egret. Retrieved on April 11, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/chinese-egret.

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