Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Great Egret, Ardea alba


The Common Egret is a large aquatic bird (Family: Ardeidae, Order: Ciconiiformes) with a long white neck and a long orange-yellow bill. The orange-yellow region surround the egret's eyes.

The egret flies with its neck folded.

Great Egret, Ardea alba


The legs and the unwebbed feet of the egret is black which exhibits a good contrast with its white body.

Great Egret, Ardea alba

Lakeside Park, CA
2008-02-26

The Common Egret is the symbol of the National Audubon Society whose early objective was to conserve the egrets from being hunted for its long, fluffy white feathers present during the breeding seasons.

Other Ardeidae species:

Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias

Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor

Snowy Egret
Egretta thula

Least Bittern
Ixobrychus exilis