# Reddish Egret (*Egretta rufescens*) The Reddish Egret is a beautiful bird with a striking reddish-brown color. It loves to hunt for fish in shallow waters and dances around to catch its meal! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Reddish Egret](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Reddish_Egret_%2827535568193%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Andy Morffew from Itchen Abbas, Hampshire, UK, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reddish_Egret_%2827535568193%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Reddish Egret has a shaggy, reddish-brown head and neck atop a slate-gray body. Its two-toned bill features a pinkish base with a dark tip. This medium-sized heron also has a rare all-white morph. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Pelecaniformes - **Family:** Ardeidae - **Genus:** Egretta ## Interesting facts - Believe it or not, some Reddish Egrets are completely white, not reddish at all! - Its bill actually changes color, becoming brighter pink or reddish during mating season! - Reddish Egrets perform a funny "dance" in the water to herd fish into easy catching range! - These are among the most active herons, often running and dashing while hunting for food! ## Special abilities - **Shady Hunter:** Reddish Egret has a unique hunting "canopy" pose that helps them create shade to reduce glare and spot fish. - **Fish Flusher:** Reddish Egret can use quick, erratic movements that help them stir up the water, flushing small fish into view. - **Precision Fisher:** Reddish Egret has a sharp, dagger-like bill that helps them quickly snatch agile fish from shallow waters. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 68-82 cm - **Wingspan:** 110-125 cm - **Weight:** 0.36-0.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 24-28 days ## Diet & Feeding They love darting and dancing through shallow waters to catch tasty fish and small ocean critters. - **Primary Foods:** Small fish, Minnows, Killifish, Crabs, Shrimp - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Mummichog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mummichog) (*Fundulus heteroclitus*) — A common prey fish in their estuarine habitats. - **Hunts:** [Blue Crab](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-crab) (*Callinectes sapidus*) — Opportunistic prey, especially smaller or molting crabs. - **Hunts:** Grass Shrimp (*Palaemonetes pugio*) — Small crustaceans found abundantly in their foraging grounds. - **Eaten by:** [American Alligator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-alligator) (*Alligator mississippiensis*) — May prey on egrets or their young in shared habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Opportunistically preys on eggs and chicks in nests. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and never try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Reddish 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 Reddish Egret? 68-82 cm ### What is Reddish Egret's wingspan? 110-125 cm ### How much does Reddish Egret weigh? 0.36-0.5 kg ### How long does Reddish Egret live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Reddish Egret move? 35 km/h ### What does Reddish Egret eat? They love darting and dancing through shallow waters to catch tasty fish and small ocean critters. ### Where is Reddish Egret usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Presidio Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/presidio-park) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Fort De Soto Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-de-soto-park) — US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Reddish Egret](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/reddish-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*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Reddish Egret: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/reddish-egret)