Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

Great egret

Ardea alba

Description:

The great egret is a large heron with all-white plumage. Standing up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, this species can measure 80 to 104 cm (31 to 41 in) in length and have a wingspan of 131 to 170 cm (52 to 67 in). Body mass can range from 700 to 1,500 g (1.5 to 3.3 lb), with an average of around 1,000 g (2.2 lb). It is thus only slightly smaller than the great blue or grey heron (A. cinerea).

Habitat:

The great egret feeds in shallow water or drier habitats, feeding mainly on fish, frogs, small mammals, and occasionally small reptiles and insects, spearing them with its long, sharp bill most of the time by standing still and allowing the prey to come within its striking distance of its bill which it uses as a spear. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim.

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

No Comments

MichalisXanthakis
Spotted by
MichalisXanthakis

Αποκεντρωμένη Διοίκηση Πελοποννήσου, Δυτικής Ελλάδας και Ιονίου, Greece

Spotted on Jan 3, 2017
Submitted on Jan 4, 2017

Related Spottings

Garça (Ardea cinerea) Ardea cinerea Grey Heron Great Egret

Nearby Spottings

Common darter Grey wagtail Starflower (Μποράτζα (Αγγουρίτσα)) Do not know
Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team