Great Egret
Ardea alba
In the late 19th century, their feathers were so prized for hats that they were hunted nearly to extinction, sparking the first bird conservation movements.
- Scientific name
- Ardea alba
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Pelecaniformes › Ardeidae › Ardea
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Freshwater and saltwater wetlands, marshes, ponds, and tidal flats.
- Diet
- Primarily fish, but also amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals.
- Range
- North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia
- Size
- Wingspan: 131-170 cm, Height: 1 meter
- Lifespan
- 15-22 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat destruction, water pollution, and human disturbance at nesting sites.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. Maintain at least 50 feet of distance to avoid disturbing their hunting behavior. If cornered, they may use their sharp beak defensively. If pecked, wash the wound thoroughly and seek medical advice if signs of infection appear.
The great egret ( Ardea alba ), also known as the common egret , large egret or (in the Old World) great white egret or great white heron is a large, widely distributed egret, with four subspecies found in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and southern Europe. Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world. It builds tree nests in colonies close to water.
Photo: Mike Baird, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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