General

Reddish Egret: Medium-sized egret with blue-gray body and shaggy, pale rufous head and neck. Bill is pink with dark tip. Legs are blue-gray. White morph has all-white plumage, black-tipped pink bill, and black legs. Sexes are similar. Juvenile of both forms is duller, has black bill.

Range and Habitat

Reddish Egret: Locally resident in extreme southern Florida and along the Gulf Coast to Texas; also occurs in coastal Mexico and the West Indies. Along the Pacific Coast, occurs from extreme southern California south. May occur farther north and farther inland during migrations. Preferred habitats include marshes, shallow bays, and lagoons.

Breeding and Nesting

Reddish Egret: Two to seven pale blue-green eggs are laid in a stick nest built in a mangrove, low bush, or on the ground. Incubation ranges from 25 to 26 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Reddish Egret: Eats fish, frogs, and crustaceans. Forages by wading rapidly in shallow water with wings raised, casting a shadow to cut down on glare.

Vocalization

Reddish Egret: Makes low croaks and soft clucking notes on nesting grounds.

Similar Species

Reddish Egret: Little Blue Heron is smaller, has gray-based bill, and lacks the shaggy neck. Tricolored Heron has a white belly. Other egrets and white herons do not have black-tipped pink bills and blue-gray legs.