Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 37–40.9 in
94–104 cm - Wingspan
- 51.6–57.1 in
131–145 cm - Weight
- 35.3 oz
1000 g
Other Names
- Great White Egret (British English)
- Grande Aigrette (French)
- Garza blanca, Garza grande, Garza real (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The Great Egret is the symbol of the National Audubon Society, one of the oldest environmental organizations in North America. Audubon was founded to protect birds from being killed for their feathers.
- Not all young that hatch survive the nestling period. Aggression among nestlings is common and large chicks frequently kill their smaller siblings.
- The longevity record for a wild Great Egret is nearly 23 years.
Habitat
Marsh
- Nests in colonies with other species, in shrubs and trees over water, and on islands.
- Feeds in variety of wetlands, including marshes, swamps, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, tide flats, canals, and flooded fields.
Food
Fish
Fish, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–6 eggs
- Egg Description
- Pale greenish-blue.
- Condition at Hatching
- Covered in long white down; can hold head up just after hatching.
Nest Description
Nests in colonies with other herons. Nest placed in trees or shrubs, made of sticks covered with green material.
Nest Placement
Tree
Behavior
Stalking
Long plumes (aigrettes) held up over back in courtship displays around the nest. Walks slowly, stands and stabs prey with quick lunge of the bill.
Conservation
Least Concern
Plume hunters in the late 1800s and early 1900s reduced North American populations by more than 95 percent. The populations recovered after the birds were protected by law. No population is considered threatened, but the species is vulnerable to the loss of wetlands.
Credits
- McCrimmon, D. A., Jr., J. C. Ogden, and G. T. Bancroft. 2001. Great Egret (Ardea alba). In The Birds of North America, No. 570 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.