Great White
Egret
The Great Egret or Great White Egret – Egretta
alba – is the largest egret in the Old World.
It is the symbol of the National Audubon Society and represents a conservation
success story. The Great White Egret is a large white heron and is found across
much of the world, from southern Canada southward to Argentina, and in Europe,
Africa, Asia, and Australia. The species inhabits all kinds of inland and
coastal wetlands, river margins, lake shores, marshes, flood-plains etc.
Description
A large all-white
Egret with large yellow bill, long black legs and feet. In breeding plumage,
delicate ornamental feathers are borne on the back and the bill becomes black.
Males and females are identical.
Call
A deep loud croak
when disturbed and low croaking cuk cuk cuk at the nest.
Food
Feeds mainly on
fish, frogs, mammals, reptiles and insects.
Breeding
Nests in colonies
with other herons. The nest is constructed from sticks and other vegetation. It
is normally positioned over water. The clutch size is between 2 to 4 pale
greenish-blue eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs. The young egrets are
aggressive towards one another in the nest, and the stronger siblings often
kill their weaker kin.
Conservation Status – 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 threatened by wetland
habitat degradation and loss.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures
to create an Aves custom tour for
you or book on one of the following Aves
Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves
Eastern Cape Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.
Aves Highlands /
Temba Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves KZN Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North East
Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North West
Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.
Aves Western Cape
Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.
Aves West Coast
Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.