Adult great egrets will have all white feathers
This contorted creature is a great egret. This photograph was taken at Fort De Soto Park, just outside of St. Petersburg, Florida. The water in the background is the Gulf of Mexico. This great egret is using its long and flexible neck to groom feathers on its back. I enjoy this weird wild photo because the egret’s head is upside down.
There are many similar looking species to the great egret, such as the snowy egret, cattle egret, reddish egret, and blue heron. So, how can we know for sure that it is a great egret? Adults, like the one in the photo, will have all white feathers and grow to about three feet tall. They will have black legs and black feet (unlike the snowy egret which has black and yellow legs). Great egrets have a large yellow-orange bill and alert yellow eyes.
Great egrets use their large bill like a spear to catch prey. You can find great egrets fishing in saltwater or freshwater. They remain motionless in shallow water until a fish gets within striking distance. Then the great egret extends its retracted neck and plunges into the water bill first, hoping to spear the fish. Aside from fish, great egrets will also prey upon small mammals, frogs, salamanders, insects, and even the occasional snake. When they don’t feel like hunting themselves, great egrets will steal the catch of smaller birds.
Great egrets are known to prey upon small mammals!
Did you know?
- Great egrets are found across the globe. They are often seen along coastlines, rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, and mud flats.
- Another way to identify these birds is by how they fly. Great egrets fly with their neck retracted. If you find yourself looking at a bird that is flying with its neck extended it might be a spoonbill, ibis, stork, or crane.
- A bird that closely resembles the great egret is the white coloration of the great blue heron.
- In the 19th century, large numbers of great egrets were killed for their feathers (used to decorate hats). However, due to conservation efforts their populations have recovered.
- Great egrets will lay 1-6 blue-green eggs. Both parents build the nest, incubate the eggs, and feed the new born via regurgitation. The baby great egret is typically able to fly by 7 weeks old.
- After two years, great egrets are able to produce offspring.
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