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, Intermediate 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: Rare migrant

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2016)

Featured articles:

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, May 2022, Dec 2022

Past accepted records in our database:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Chinese Egret in non-breeding plumage at Pulau Ubin. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
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
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.