General

Great Egret: Large, white heron with yellow eyes. Bill is yellow but may appear orange when breeding. Legs and feet are black. Long feather plumes extend from the back to beyond the tail during breeding season. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Great Egret: Breeds from Oregon to western Mexico and from Minnesota to the Mississippi Valley and southeast U.S.; also occurs along the Atlantic coast north to southern New England. Winters in Oregon south through the southwest, Texas, and Gulf coast states to Mexico, and on the Atlantic coast north to New Jersey. Prefers fresh and salt marshes, marshy ponds, and tidal flats.

Breeding and Nesting

Great Egret: One to six pale blue or blue green eggs are laid in a nest constructed of sticks, twigs, and stems of marsh plants, with little or no lining, and built in a medium-sized tree 20 to 40 feet above the ground; often nests in colonies. Incubation ranges from 23 to 26 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Great Egret: Feeds mainly on crayfish, shrimp, aquatic insects, frogs, fish, crabs, and snails. Occasionally eats lizards, snakes, salamanders, mice, and moles; forages while wading.

Vocalization

Great Egret: Utters a loud, low-pitched, hoarse croak.

Similar Species

Great Egret: Snowy Egret is smaller with black bill and legs, and yellow feet. In southern Florida, the white form of the Great Blue Heron is larger and has yellow legs.