Great Egret

The Great Egret is a species of milky white herons found in several tropical and temperate regions across all the continents except Australia. They are found foraging for fish in the quiet waters in the wildand are known in various names like common egret, large egretgreat white egretand great white heron.

Physical Description

Size: They stand up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tallwith a measurement of 80 to 104 cm (31 to 41 in) by length and a wingspan of 131 to 170 cm (52 to 67 in).

Weight: The body mass can vary between age and the sexesranging between 700 and 1,500 g (1.5 and 3.3 lb)and averaging to around 1,000 g (2.2 lb).

Plumage: Their feathers are all white. During mating seasonlong feathery breeding plumage grows from its backcalled ‘aigrettes’.

Body: They can be differentiated from other white egrets (like the snowy egret or the great blue heron) from their characteristic yellow bill (beaks) in front of their elongated headsas well as their black legs and feet with long fingers.

Sexual Dimorphism: Males and females look alikeexcept that the males are a little larger.

Lifespan

The average of this bird in the wild is 15 yearswhereas, in captivitythey have been seen living for up to 22.

Classification of Species by Distribution

With minor physical differencesthe great egrets have four known subspecies depending on their ranges:

1. Ardea alba alba (nominate species) – found in Europe

2. Ardea alba egretta – found in the Americas

3. Ardea alba melanorhynchos – found in Africa

4. Ardea alba modesta (the eastern great egret) – found in IndiaSoutheast Asiaand Oceania

Habitat

Great egrets are found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats including lakespondsriversstreamsestuariesmarshswampsbogsand coastal and brackish waters.

Behavioral Characteristics

These aquatic birds are highly territorial especially during the time of feedingnesting and courtship. They are diurnal in nature, foraging for food all daywhile at dusk they flock together at one place from surrounding areasforming communal roosts.

Howeverafter breedingthey often disperse and join the groupoften accompanied by young birdsleaving out on long journeys. Like many heron speciesthey snatch or rob away food from other heron speciesand in factthey rob a rather higher percentage of food from other species of small herons.

Great white egrets also fight for food within their own community that can reach the level of aggression. These heronshoweverhave been seen to behave highly aggressive in many other situations even when food is available.

They migrate by day in small flocks and communicate by means of sounds and callse.g. while defending territories they may emit harsh squawksor before courtshipthey give out a low ‘corr’.

Diet

Being primarily piscivorethey mostly consume various species of fish. Howeverthey would also eat small mammalsamphibians, reptilesinsectsand aquatic crustaceans.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

This bird displays seasonal monogamous behavior. The males of the species select a territory and exhibit a series of mating rituals in order to attract a female for copulation. The cat of mating takes place within the territory of the male.

Great white egrets typically build their nests with other species of herons within a colony in swaps and wooded wetlands. Their homes are rather shabby being made of twigsstemsand sticksand on the treetopsas high as possible.

The eggs are a light greenish blue in color. Both the father and the mother take turn incubating them for around 23 to 24 days. The offspringonce hatchednormally fledge within 2 to 3 weeks.

While the clutch size is 3 to 4their breeding season begins around the mid of April. These birds have the ability to reproduce after two years and can raise one brood each year.

The average age of sexual maturity of the young birds is about two years.

Adaptations

1. Since these birds live in
   a mixed communitythere is a high possibility of the eggs being damaged.
   In such casesthe females can lay replacement eggs.
2. These carnivorous birds are
   specially adapted with long legs for the purpose of wading.
3. The longsharp bill of
   these animals are designed for grasping and spearing slippery aquatic prey.

Predators

The great egrets do not have any non-human predatorsexcept for their eggs (or sometimes the young juveniles and chicks) that are sometimes predated by jayscrowsvulturesand raccoons.

Conservation Status

Considering their static growth in populationthe IUCN 3.2 has enlisted them as ‘LC’ (Least Concern).

Interesting Facts

• The bird is the symbol of
  the National Audubon Society.
• In the early 20^th
  centurytheir long feathers were extensively used on ladies hatsand thus,
  the bird was almost hunted into extinction.
• The great white egret has
  been depicted in several currency notes and coins in different countries
  like BelarusBrazilNew Zealandand Hungary.
• The name of Shariputraone of the Buddha’s primary
  followerspossibly means “the son of the egret”according to many
  researchers of the ancient Buddhist textssince his mother is said to
  have had eyes like that of a great egret.