Great Egret

Overview

Great Egret (Ardea alba) is a species of Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae) in the order Pelicans and Allies. A large all-white heron with a long neck, yellow bill and black legs; stalks fish in marshes and rice fields; graceful in flight; breeds colonially in trees over water.

Scientific Classification

Genus: Ardea; binomial: Ardea alba; authority: Linnaeus, 1758. Typical size: 80-105cm. Average lifespan: 10-20 years.

Distribution

Breeding range: the Nearctic, South America, Africa, the Palearctic, the Oriental Region and Australasia.

Conservation Status

This taxon is listed as Extant (living) in the IOC World Bird List.

Remarks

See Pratt (2011) re potential split of Great Egret A. alba vs. American Egret A. egretta.