Eastern Great Egret (with breeding plumage)

Description:

The Eastern Great Egret's overall plumage is white, and, for most of the year, when not breeding, the bill and facial skin are yellow. The feet are dark olive-grey or sooty black, as are the legs. During the breeding season, the bill turns mostly black and the facial skin becomes green. Also at this time, long hair-like feathers (nuptial plumes) hang across the lower back, and the legs become pinkish-yellow at the top. Young Great Egrets are similar to the adults, but have a blackish tip to the bill.

Habitat:

This specimen was spotted in a garden by a car park. There is a large lake on the other side of the complex which is a favourite breeding ground for many bird species.

Notes:

The subspecies is protected in Australia under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. This sub-species of Great Egret ranges from Pakistan, India and parts of Asia through to Oceania.