Great Egret

General Description

A large, long-necked and long-legged wading bird with pure white plumage, the Great Egret has a long, yellow bill, and dark legs and feet. In breeding plumage, adults have longish plumes descending from their tails, but not their heads.

Great Egret are Uncommon in Western Washington year round.

Habitat

Great Egrets inhabit freshwater wetlands, usually foraging in open areas of lakes, large marshes, and along large rivers.

Behavior

Great Egrets can be found feeding in flocks of their own kind or with other herons. When feeding, they stand or walk slowly in shallow water waiting for prey to come by, and then they thrust to catch it with their bills. Sometimes they forage in open fields, occasionally around cattle, but are not likely to be confused with the much smaller Cattle Egret.