Identifying White Egrets and Herons

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Snowy Egret
I became interested in birding and bird photography largely because of the beauty of herons and egrets, or what is known as the family Ardeidae (herons, egrets and bitterns). Herons and egrets are not biologically distinct from each other; an egret is basically a heron with pretty breeding plumage pretty--pretty enough that they were hunted to near extinction in order to make feather hats in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Of the species of Ardeidae commonly found in the United States, there are three species of Egret that are typically white in color as adults. I thought it would be helpful to show pictures of all three to help you distinguish between them.

"Standard" White Herons/Egrets
Great Egret
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Great Egret
The Great Egret is the largest white egret in the United States. A Great Egret can be distinguished by its large size, yellow bill and black legs.

Snowy Egret
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Snowy Egret
The Snowy Egret is significantly smaller than the Great Egret, and it has a black bill with yellow feet.

Cattle Egret
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Cattle Egret
The Cattle Egret is about the same size as a Snowy Egret, but has a shorter, chunkier looking neck with a yellow bill and dark legs and feet. They are also more likely to be found away from water. Cattle Egrets may also display an orange crown, as well as orange feathers on their backs.
So of the three common white egrets, if it's a large egret, it's a Great Egret.  If it's smaller with a dark bill and yellow feet, it's a Snowy Egret. If it's smaller with a yellow bill or orange feathers, it's a Cattle Egret. Simple enough?  Well, let me complicate it a little.

Other Herons/Egrets
There are three other species of herons and egrets that can appear all white: Little Blue Herons are all white when they are immature, and both Great Blue Herons and Reddish Egrets have white "morphs" that appear in Florida.

Immature Little Blue Heron
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Little Blue Heron
Immature Little Blue Herons have white feathers, so they can easily be confused with Snowy Egrets. But they also have a dark-tipped bill and greenish legs.

White Morph Great Blue Heron
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Great Blue Heron
In Central and South Florida, you can sometimes find a white morph Great Blue Heron. These birds are larger in size than a Great Egret with a thick dark bill and grey legs, not black.

White Morph Reddish Egret
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Reddish Egret

The white morph of the Reddish Egret has a two-toned bill and dark grey legs, which should help you distinguish them from Snowy and Cattle Egrets, as well as immature Little Blue Herons.

Comments

  1. Wonderful page, very simple and to the point. Looks like the ones I've been shooting at the local lakes are the Great Egrets. I'd love to shoot some Snowy Egrets though, for the color on the legs and feet. Thanks for putting this together.

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    Replies
    1. I'm so glad it was helpful to you, and I hope you get yourself a Snowy soon.

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  2. Informative & wonderful photography ( as usual ).

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  3. I have taken dozens of photos of what I think are Blue Herons. I was hoping you would have posted a photo of one to confirm. I have them posted on my Nature Photography page on Facebook; beautiful birds!

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  4. I have taken dozens of photos of what I think are Blue Herons. I was hoping you would have posted a photo of one to confirm. I have them posted on my Nature Photography page on Facebook; beautiful birds!

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  5. I have taken dozens of photos of what I think are Blue Herons. I was hoping you would have posted a photo of one to confirm. I have them posted on my Nature Photography page on Facebook; beautiful birds!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have taken dozens of photos of what I think are Blue Herons. I was hoping you would have posted a photo of one to confirm. I have them posted on my Nature Photography page on Facebook; beautiful birds!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have taken dozens of photos of what I think are Blue Herons. I was hoping you would have posted a photo of one to confirm. I have them posted on my Nature Photography page on Facebook; beautiful birds!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have taken dozens of photos of what I think are Blue Herons. I was hoping you would have posted a photo of one to confirm. I have them posted on my Nature Photography page on Facebook; beautiful birds!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have taken dozens of photos of what I think are Blue Herons. I was hoping you would have posted a photo of one to confirm. I have them posted on my Nature Photography page on Facebook; beautiful birds!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have taken dozens of photos of what I think are Blue Herons. I was hoping you would have posted a photo of one to confirm. I have them posted on my Nature Photography page on Facebook; beautiful birds!

    ReplyDelete

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