Herons · Pelicans and herons
Little Egret
Copied!
Egretta garzetta
Copied!
Voice
Call
Call
How to recognize it
-
Small white heron
-
Slender black bill, black legs, yellow feet
-
Breeding adults show long plumes on nape and breast
-
Slow flight with neck tucked and legs stretched back
About the species
The Little Egret has a light, tidy look that is easy to remember. In a calm posture it reads as mostly white, with a slim black bill and long black legs standing out in motion.
It is usually quiet away from the colony, but becomes much noisier around nesting sites, where harsh, croaking calls carry well. When feeding, it may wait still or move quickly through shallow water, sometimes running with wings out.
Look for it along shallow rivers, lakes, canals, marshes, lagoons, and rice fields. It feeds on small fish, frogs, insects, and other small prey; in warm areas it stays year-round, while northern populations move south for winter.
Where to find
-
Along canal edges, pond shallows, and quiet river inlets — especially where reed fringe meets open water and the egret stands still before striking.
-
On the banks of city lakes and in low waterfront parks with open water, most often in the morning while it wades with its bill pointed down.
-
At drainage ditches, stormwater pools, and rain puddles after wet weather — watch for short bursts of running over water with wings spread.
-
Sometimes perches on rooftops or railings near water — a good clue when feeding happens in a wide, open stretch with little cover.
