Snowy Egret
NameSnowy Egret
Common NameSnowy Egret
Scientific NameEgretta thula
FamilyArdeidae
Wingspan (cm)103
Length (cm)61
Weight (g)370
Plumage DetailsPure white plumage with a shaggy crest and plumes on the back during breeding season. It has bright yellow lores (skin between the eye and bill), a slender black bill, and black legs with distinctive bright yellow feet.
Vocalization / CallGenerally quiet, but can produce harsh, croaking, or gurgling calls, especially when disturbed or at nesting colonies.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatsmarshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, estuaries, tidal flats, coastal lagoons
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread across the Americas, breeding from southern Canada and the United States south through Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
Identifying FeaturesAll-white plumage, Black bill, Yellow lores, Black legs with bright yellow feet, Shaggy breeding plumes on head and back
Description
The Snowy Egret is a medium-sized, all-white heron known for its elegant appearance and active foraging style. It often wades in shallow waters, stirring up prey with its bright yellow feet before striking with its sharp bill.
