Snowy Egret
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Rhododendrites" title="User:Rhododendrites">Rhododendrites</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
NameSnowy Egret
Common NameSnowy Egret
Scientific NameEgretta thula
FamilyArdeidae
Wingspan (cm)100
Length (cm)61
Weight (g)370
Plumage DetailsEntirely pure white plumage. It has a slender, pointed black bill, bright yellow lores (skin between the eye and bill) that become reddish during breeding, and black legs with striking bright yellow feet.
Vocalization / CallGenerally quiet, but produces harsh, croaking or guttural calls such as 'aah-aah-aah' or 'rraah-rraah' when disturbed, in flight, or at nesting colonies.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatswetlands, marshes, estuaries, lagoons, ponds, coastal areas, mudflats
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound throughout the Americas, breeding from the United States and southern Canada south through Central America and the Caribbean to South America. Northern populations migrate south for winter, while southern populations are resident.
Identifying Featuresall-white plumage, slender black bill, yellow lores, black legs with bright yellow feet, active foraging behavior
Description
The Snowy Egret is a medium-sized, elegant white heron known for its active foraging style in shallow waters. It often stirs its bright yellow feet to flush out prey, making it a distinctive sight in wetlands across the Americas.
