AnimaliaIUCN LCApproved Recent Sighting

Ardea alba

Great Egret

Linnaeus, 1758

Detailed Texts Multi-lang

Large-sized heron with all-white plumage, a long S-shaped neck, a robust yellow bill, and dark legs.

Added by

Anonymous Curator

Reviewed by

Julia Trouin

Last modified by

Julia Trouin

Taxonomy

PhylumChordata

ClassAves

OrderPelecaniformes

FamilyArdeidae

GenusArdea

Taxonomic AuthorityLinnaeus, 1758

Ecology & Status

Origin

Native

Population Trend

Stable

Breeding Season

Year Round

Trophic Role

Carnivore

Recent Sightings

Yes

Habitat Summary Multi-lang

Inhabits a huge variety of wet environments, from lakes and marshes to coasts and flooded agricultural areas.

Behaviour Multi-lang

Patient bird that hunts by standing still in shallow water.

Social Activity Multi-lang

Usually solitary outside of breeding season, when it forms colonies.

Feeding Guild Multi-lang

Ambush predator that waits for prey to get close.

Trophic Chain Details Multi-lang

Carnivorous: fish, amphibians, small mammals, reptiles, and insects.

Reproductive Behaviour Multi-lang

Nests in colonies in trees, often over water.

Physical Measures

Length (cm)

80.0 - 104.0 cm

Weight (Grams)

700 g - 1.50 kg

Offspring per cycle2 - 4

Sexual DimorphismNo

Lifespan

Sexual Maturity

2 - 3 Years

Gestation / Incubation

23 - 26

Lifespan Estimated

Males15 - 20 Years

Females15 - 20 Years

Evolutionary Adaptations Multi-lang

Flexible neck: Its specialized vertebral structure allows it to perform lightning-fast strikes with its bill to capture prey.

Main Threats Multi-lang

Draining and degradation of wetlands, pesticide contamination, and loss of nesting sites.

Interesting Facts Multi-lang

It is a symbol of conservation, as its protection at the beginning of the 20th century was key to creating the first wildlife refuges.