Little egret
Egretta garzetta
The little egret (Egretta garzetta) is a species of small heron in the family Ardeidae.
About the Little egret
The little egret (Egretta garzetta) is a species of small heron in the family Ardeidae. It is a white bird with a slender black beak, long black legs and, in the western race, yellow feet. As an aquatic bird, it feeds in shallow water and on land, consuming a variety of small creatures. It breeds colonially, often with other species of water birds, making a platform nest of sticks in a tree, bush or reed bed. A clutch of three to five bluish-green eggs is laid and incubated by both parents for about three weeks. The young fledge at about six weeks of age. It is a polytypic species with two or arguably more subspecies. Its breeding distribution comprises the wetlands, waterways and shorelines of warm temperate to tropical parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. A successful colonist,
Fun Facts About Little egret
- It breeds colonially, often with other species of water birds, making a platform nest of sticks in a tree, bush or reed bed.
- By the beginning of the 21st century the bird was breeding again in France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Britain.
- At one time common in Western Europe, it was hunted extensively in the 19th century to provide plumes for the decoration of hats and became locally extinct in northwestern Europe and scarce in the south.
- Around 1950, conservation laws were introduced in southern Europe to protect the species and their numbers began to increase.
- The birds may also wander north in late summer after the breeding season, and their tendency to disperse may have assisted in the recent expansion of the bird's range.
Conservation Status
The Little egret is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is currently stable and not at significant risk of population decline.
Taxonomy & Classification
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | heron |
| Genus | Egretta |
| Species | Egretta garzetta |
Range & Habitat
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Other species in the heron family: