The larger Great Egret (Ardea alba) and the smaller Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) are sometimes found side-by side, making the size differential between them easy to see at a distance. For more detailed observation, especially in flight, the Great has a yellow bill and black feet, the Snowy a black bill and yellow feet. Note also their different foraging behavior: the Great is a slow stalker, the Snowy is more active, hopping about, even dancing, in the water. The Snowy has some similiarity to the immature Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea), so keep an eye out if you are blessed with opportunities for the confusion, and enjoy the challenge.
Yes, we have egrets
5 responses to “Yes, we have egrets”
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Do you ever get stray Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) over your side of the water? Suspect that would really complicate identification!
From none in the UK in my childhood we now have a healthy, though amber listed population, predominantly in the south of the country. I captured a couple of nice pics of one at Great Amwell Nature Reserve last weekend so will put up a reciprocal post on The Badgers Eye. Mind you I can almost claim them as a garden bird as I have seen them just outside the village on our local stream too.-
Yes, there have been a few records of E. garzetta from Newfoundland to Virginia, but quite rare. (The only one I’ve seen was in the Arno in Florence.) Sibley notes that “this species [on this side of Atlantic] must be identified with great caution” because it is so similar to its genus-mate E. thula. Snowys and Greats are practically backyard birds here, too, since they pass over very specific parts of Brooklyn during their morning and evening commutes to and from Prospect Park/Green-wood Cemetery to the harbor islands they roost in.
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Lovely. Commuting egrets is a wonderful image and no doubt a terrific site.
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The great egret is an amazing animal. First, it also lives in Europe. Then, on both continents, it extends its range. In Europe, it extends from east to west and nests in Europe in recent years. In North America, it extends northward and now breeds in Quebec.
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Also remarkable is that these birds were almost slaughtered to extinction just over a century ago for the feather trade.
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Backyard and Beyond 
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