Little Egret
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
At a Glance
This Old World counterpart to our Snowy Egret was formerly only an accidental visitor to North America, with only one record before 1980. Since 1980 the Little Egret has been recorded several times along our Atlantic Coast during the warmer months. These strays probably make the crossing from West Africa to the Caribbean, and then migrate north on our side of the Atlantic.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns, Long-legged Waders
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Coasts and Shorelines, Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers, Saltwater Wetlands
Region
Mid Atlantic, New England
Behavior
Direct Flight, Walking
Range & Identification
Description
Sexes similar — Length: 1 ft 9 in-2 ft 1 in (55-65 cm); wingspan: 3 ft-3 ft 3 in (88-95 cm); weight: 12-18 oz (350-510 g). The Little Egret is very similar to the Snowy Egret, with black legs and yellow feet. May appear to have thicker bill, grayer lores. In breeding plumage, has two long, thin plumes on back of head.
Size
About the size of a Heron, About the size of a Mallard or Herring Gull
Color
Black, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Broad, Rounded
Tail Shape
Short
Songs and Calls
Usually silent. Some calls similar to Snowy Egret. Breeding individuals give rapid gobbling sounds.
Call Pattern
Flat
Call Type
Croak/Quack, Raucous, Scream
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