Species Profile
Great White Egret
Ardea alba
Great Egret
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernLifespan
15–20 years
Length
80–104 cm
Weight
700–1500 g
Wingspan
131–170 cm
Migration
Partial migrant
Also known as: Great Egret, Common Egret
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Appearance
The Great White Egret is a striking, tall, wading bird with pure white plumage. It has a long, slender neck, a dagger-like yellow bill, and long black legs. During the breeding season, it develops long, filamentous plumes on its back.
Females and males look alike throughout the year, although males tend to be larger and heavier. The bill may turn darker in breeding plumage, and the facial skin becomes green. Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults.
Identification & Characteristics
Colors
- Primary
- White
- Secondary
- Yellow
- Beak
- Yellow
- Legs
- Black
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Great White Egrets inhabit various wetland habitats, including marshes, swamps, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. They have a widespread global distribution found on every continent except Antarctica.
In North America, they're common in the southern United States and along both coasts. In Europe, their range has been expanding northward, with increasing numbers in the UK, particularly in Somerset and East Anglia.
Where and when to see it
How often the Great White Egret turns up in the UK and Ireland through the year, from birdwatchers' records.
United Kingdom
Resident · all year · most records in October
Ireland
Winter visitor · all year · most records in January
Show as a table
| Month | United Kingdom | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0.24% (regular) | 0.046% (regular) |
| February | 0.21% (regular) | 0.036% (regular) |
| March | 0.16% (regular) | 0.026% (regular) |
| April | 0.11% (regular) | 0.024% (regular) |
| May | 0.10% (regular) | 0.006% (regular) |
| June | 0.12% (regular) | 0.004% (regular) |
| July | 0.19% (regular) | 0.010% (regular) |
| August | 0.26% (regular) | 0.009% (regular) |
| September | 0.29% (regular) | 0.020% (regular) |
| October | 0.29% (regular) | 0.036% (regular) |
| November | 0.27% (regular) | 0.035% (regular) |
| December | 0.23% (regular) | 0.035% (regular) |
Recorded regularly in
Worldwide: recorded regularly in 195 countries
Countries where it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024. Linked countries have their own bird list.
Europe (42)
- Åland Islands
- Albania
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
Africa (45)
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo - Brazzaville
- Congo - Kinshasa
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Mayotte
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Asia (47)
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- China
- Cyprus
- Georgia
- Hong Kong SAR China
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Macao SAR China
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nepal
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestinian Territories
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
North America (39)
- Anguilla
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Aruba
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada
- Caribbean Netherlands
- Cayman Islands
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Mexico
- Montserrat
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- Sint Maarten
- St Barthélemy
- St Kitts & Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Martin
- St Vincent & the Grenadines
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- United States
- US Virgin Islands
South America (13)
Oceania (9)
- Australia
- Christmas Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Guam
- New Zealand
- Norfolk Island
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made
Diet
Great White Egrets are opportunistic feeders, primarily consuming fish, amphibians, and small reptiles. They also eat small mammals, insects, and other birds. Their hunting technique involves standing still in water up to about a foot (0.3m) deep or slowly stalking prey before quickly striking with their sharp bill.
Behaviour
Great White Egrets are often seen standing motionless in shallow water, waiting to strike at prey with lightning speed. They are generally solitary feeders but may gather in small groups during breeding season. These birds fly with slow wingbeats, their necks folded in an S-shape, distinguishing them from cranes.
Calls & Sounds
Great White Egrets are generally silent, but during breeding season, they become more vocal. Their calls include a low, hoarse croak or 'frahnk' sound, often heard at rookeries. During courtship, they may produce a series of clicking or snapping sounds with their bill.
- Call0:00 / 0:08
Recorded in Normandie, France · January 2022
Nesting & Breeding
Great White Egrets typically breed in colonies, often with other heron species. Pair formation begins with elaborate courtship displays, including neck stretching and feather erection. The breeding season varies by location but often occurs in spring and summer.
Nests are large platforms of sticks, usually built in trees or tall shrubs near water. Females lay 3-4 pale blue-green eggs, and both parents share incubation duties.
Incubation lasts about 23-26 days. Chicks fledge after 6-7 weeks but may return to the nest for several more weeks to be fed.
Conservation
While currently listed as Least Concern globally, Great White Egrets faced severe declines in the past due to hunting for their plumes.
Conservation efforts, including habitat protection and hunting regulations, have helped populations recover in many areas. However, wetland loss remains a concern.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for them in shallow waters of wetlands, marshes, and coastal areas
- Observe their patient hunting technique, standing still for long periods
- During the breeding season, watch for their elaborate courtship displays in rookeries
- In the UK, visit Somerset Levels or East Anglian fens for sightings
Did You Know?
- Great White Egrets can strike and swallow prey in less than 1/20th of a second.
- They were once hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes, which were used in fashion.
- These birds can fly at speeds up to 40 km/h (25 mph).
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