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Great Egret

Ardea alba ORDER: PELECANIFORMES FAMILY: ARDEIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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A large white heron, the Great Egret is found across much of the world, from southern Canada southward to Argentina, and in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It's the largest egret in the Old World, and thus has garnered the name Great White Egret. In the New World, however, the white form of the Great Blue Heron is larger. In the United States, the Great Egret used to be called the American Egret but that was hardly appropriate, since its range extends beyond the Americas and indeed farther than other herons.

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At a GlanceHelp

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.

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Food


Fish

Fish, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals.

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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
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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.

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Conservation

status via IUCN

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.

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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.
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Range Map Help

Great Egret Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings
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