General

Chinese Egret: Population is seriously declining due to competition for living space with humans and other egrets. White overall with shaggy crest, blue-green lores, long and slender orange-yellow bill, and black legs with yellow feet. Sexes are similar. Winter-plumaged birds lack the plumes on the back, chest, and nape, have greenish brown legs, greenish lores, and a brownish bill with a yellow base.

Range and Habitat

Chinese Egret: Breeds in Russia, North Korea, South Korea and mainland China. It is also a non-breeding visitor to Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Peninsular and eastern Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei. Has been seen in North America only in the western Aleutian Islands. Found in mudflats, bays, and shallow estuaries.

Breeding and Nesting

Chinese Egret: Three to five pale blue-green eggs are laid in a platform of twigs and branches built by both sexes in a tree, shrub, or dry reed bed. Eggs are incubated for 20-24 days by both sexes. Semialtricial young stay in nest about 30 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Chinese Egret: Feeds on mudflats and tidal flats with other herons and egrets. Diet includes small fish, mollusks, crustaceans, reptiles, amphibians, and large insects. Often wades in shallow water when feeding.

Vocalization

Chinese Egret: Usually silent, low raspy croaks when disturbed and while nesting.

Similar Species

Chinese Egret: None in range.