# Great Egret (*Ardea alba*) The Great Egret is a tall, graceful bird with long legs and a beautiful white body. It loves to stand still by the water, waiting to catch fish with its sharp beak. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 176 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Common Egret, White Egret ![Great Egret](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ardea_alba4.jpg&width=800) Photo: Calibas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ardea_alba4.jpg) ## Appearance The Great Egret is a large bird with stunning pure white plumage, an elegant S-curved neck, and long, slender black legs. It has a distinctive yellowish-orange bill that turns brighter during breeding season. Its striking all-white body sets it apart from other wading birds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Pelecaniformes - **Family:** Ardeidae - **Genus:** Ardea ## Interesting facts - An egret's extra-long toes spread out to help them walk on squishy mud without sinking! Wow! - During breeding season, the male egret's bill turns an amazing orange-red color! - Their dazzling white feathers were once so popular for hats, they were hunted almost to extinction! - They often stand completely still, waiting patiently for prey to swim close before striking! ## Special abilities - **Lightning Strike Neck:** Great Egret can extend its S-curved neck with incredible speed to spear fish, helping them catch quick, elusive prey. - **Wading Walker:** Great Egret has long, stilt-like legs that help them wade into deep water without getting wet, allowing access to hidden food. - **Preening Powder:** Great Egret has special 'powder down' feathers that continuously crumble, helping them clean sticky fish slime from their plumage. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 80-104 cm - **Wingspan:** 131-170 cm - **Weight:** 0.7-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-24 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-6 - **Incubation:** 23-26 days ## Diet & Feeding The Great Egret mostly eats small fish, but also enjoys other tasty treats found in the water. - **Primary Foods:** fish, amphibians, insects, crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Alligator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-alligator) (*Alligator mississippiensis*) — Alligators prey on egret eggs and chicks. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Raccoons often raid egret nests for eggs and young. - **Hunts:** Mosquitofish (*Gambusia affinis*) — A common small fish prey in their wetland habitats. - **Hunts:** Northern Leopard Frog (*Lithobates pipiens*) — Egrets hunt these frogs in shallow waters. - **Depends on:** Bald Cypress (*Taxodium distichum*) — Often nests in colonies within these large trees. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Great Egret? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Great Egret? 80-104 cm ### What is Great Egret's wingspan? 131-170 cm ### How much does Great Egret weigh? 0.7-1.5 kg ### How long does Great Egret live? 15-24 years ### How fast can Great Egret move? 35 km/h ### What does Great Egret eat? The Great Egret mostly eats small fish, but also enjoys other tasty treats found in the water. ### Where is Great Egret usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Alabama City Wall Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alabama-city-wall-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Arastradero Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arastradero-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Ashley River Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashley-river-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Audubon Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Bainbridge Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bainbridge-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District [View all places to see Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/great-egret) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) - [Double-crested Cormorant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/double-crested-cormorant) (*Nannopterum auritum*) --- Source: [Great Egret: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret)