General

Little Egret: Medium-sized, all white egret with plumes on head, breast, and back, black legs with yellow feet, black bill, and yellow lores. Sexes are similar. Nonbreeding adult lacks head and back plumes, has gray lores, and shows yellow on lower legs. Juvenile resembles nonbreeding adult but lacks breast plumes and has mostly black legs. Difficult to distinguish from Snowy Egret.

Range and Habitat

Little Egret: Widespread in Africa, Asia, Europe, Indian and Southeast Asia, very rarely wanders to the north Atlantic states of North America.

Breeding and Nesting

Little Egret: Nests in colonies on ground or in trees. Lays five or six green blue eggs that both parents incubate for 21 to 25 days. Chicks make first flight when 40 to 45 days old.

Foraging and Feeding

Little Egret: Feeds along shorelines, in wet or dry fields, and may often follow cattle. Eats a wide variety of insects, small fish, crustaceans, amphibians and other small animals.

Vocalization

Little Egret: Generally silent or harsh croak.

Similar Species

Little Egret: Snowy Egret is virtually identical except that its yellow facial skin continues over the top of the bill instead of being interrupted by a small patch of white feathers.