Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

A snow-white heron with wispy plumes and yellow feet, this graceful wader is making a comeback across wetlands worldwide.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Little Egret is a striking, medium-sized heron with pure white plumage. It has a slender dagger-like black bill, long black legs, and yellow feet.

During the breeding season, adults develop long, filamentous plumes on the crest, back, and chest.

Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but may have duller legs and feet. Both sexes are similar in appearance, with females slightly smaller on average than males.

Size

Length

55cm to 65cm

Wingspan

88cm to 106cm

Weight

350g to 550g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

White

Secondary Colour

Black

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Little Egret is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Little Egret is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Little Egret can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Little Egret can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Little Egret is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Little Egret is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Little Egret is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Little Egret is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Little Egret is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Little Egret is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Little Egret is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Little Egret is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Little Egrets inhabit a wide range of wetland habitats, including coastal lagoons, estuaries, tidal mudflats, and inland freshwater bodies. They are found across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

In recent decades, their range has expanded northward in Europe. They are now regular visitors to the UK, with established breeding populations along southern and eastern coasts (Norfolk is an excellent area for spotting), and are occasionally seen in eastern North America.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Tropical, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Little Egret. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons