Great Egret Identification

Adult

Long-legged wading bird with a long, S-curved neck and a daggerlike bill.

Breeding adult (American)

"American" Great Egrets occur across much of North America and South America. Breeding adults have an orange-yellow bill and develop showy plumes (known as aigrettes) that they use in courtship displays.

Adult

Slowly walks through freshwater or estuarine habitats hunting foraging with stand-and-wait techniques.

Breeding adult (African)

"African" Great Egrets are found in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Breeding adults have a black bill and blue-green lores between the bill and the eyes.

Breeding adult (alba)

Great Egrets breeding from central Europe to central Asia belong to the alba subspecies group. Breeding adults in this group have a blackish bill, greenish lores, and yellowish to reddish legs.

Adult

Great Egrets are opportunistic foragers. They primarily consume fish, but also eat crustaceans, amphibians, and small mammals.

Breeding adult (modesta)

Great Egrets breeding from South Asia and East Asia to Australia belong to the modesta subspecies group. Breeding adults in this group have a black bill, green lores, and dark legs with a pink or purplish wash.

Adult

Flies with its long neck tucked in and its long legs trailing behind.

Breeding adult with Roseate Spoonbills

Males perform elegant courtship displays by raising long plumes on their backs. Displays also include head bowing or neck stretching.

Breeding adult (American)

Wades through water slowly stalking fish, amphibians, and other aquatic invertebrates.

Adult (with Snowy Egret)

"American" Great Egret is larger than a Snowy Egret, with a yellow bill and entirely black legs and feet.

Great Egrets while solitary foragers, roost and nest in mixed-species colonies in trees and shrubs.

Habitat

Found in both freshwater and saltwater wetlands.