Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

Family: Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns · Status: Common migrant and rare visitor · Size: 55–65 cm · Conservation: Not Evaluated

Range

Occurs throughout the Palearctic and Australia; most northerly populations winter to Africa, southern Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, southern China and Southeast Asia.

Identification

Non-breeding adult has all-white plumage, black legs with yellow feet and a mostly blackish bill. Told from Chinese Egret by black bill lacking an orange-yellow base, and longer, thinner, dark legs. Told from Pacific Reef Heron (white morph) by black legs with yellow feet and a slimmer build. Told from Medium Egret by yellow feet (not yellow legs) and black bill. Breeding adults develop two long white plumes behind the head. Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but have greenish legs.

Habitat

Various freshwater and coastal wetlands.

Behaviour

Less active feeder than Chinese Egret; forages by wading slowly in shallow water.