Salt Grass Flats - Celebrating Gulf Coast Birds
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The Sibley Guide to Birds contains marvelous illustrations originally drawn by the author using watercolors. This is a great identification guide, not only for adult birds, but juveniles, also. |
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Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Wingspan: 41"
Length: 24"
Weight: 13 ounces
Male/Female similar
| During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Snowy Egrets were slaughtered almost to extinction for their fine plumes which were used to decorate hats. Fortunately, complete protection has enabled them to increase their numbers again. |
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Snowy Egret - San Jacinto Park |
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Snowy Egret - Anahuac NWR
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Physical Description:
Legs mostly black, with bright yellow feet; bill black, with yellow on lores (in front of eyes) which is red during breeding.
Habitat:
Salt marshes, swamps, ponds, shores, tidal flats, rice fields, shallow coastal bays.
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Feeding Habits:
Snowy Egrets eat small fishes, frogs, lizards, snakes, shrimps, fiddler crabs, crawfishes, grasshoppers and aquatic insects.
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More than any other herons that do so, Snowy Egrets use their feet to stir bottom of shallows of ponds. |
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Nest:
Built on the ground or up to 30 feet high in trees; in colonies with other species of herons; 5 - 10 feet up in trees or shrubs more typical; highly social nester.
In Texas, Snowy Egrets nest on dry islands with nests in prickly pear plants.
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Sometimes the "Little Guy" Wins!
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Eggs:
3 - 8, commonly 5, white, although a few may be spotted with brown about the larger end.
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Snowy Egrets were once hunted almost to extinction for their beautiful "snow white" feathers. |
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