Snowy Egret

Welcome to this week’s Wildlife of the Week!

Our species this week is the Snowy Egret!

Egretta thula

Adult snowy egrets are entirely white with the exception of yellow lores between the long black bill and the eye. Bright yellow "socks" on black legs are a distinguishing feature. The nape and neck bear long, shaggy plumes known as aigrettes. Immature Snowy Egrets have duller greenish legs. They resemble, but are smaller than, the Great Egret which is much more common on the refuge.

Snowy egrets can be found throughout North America, and while they are most common along the coasts, they are occasionally found inland in wetlands like those on the refuge. They prefer to concentrate in areas like mudflats, agricultural fields, riverbanks and wetlands and may often be found mixed in with large groups of Great Egrets.

Their diet mostly consists of small aquatic animals like fish and crustaceans. They often employ a sit-and-wait method to capture prey but may be seen frantically chasing after them too. Another common technique they use when hunting is digging around with their feet to stir up the prey underwater and then spearing them with their bill. They are highly social birds and can be seen foraging with other species, such as gulls, terns and other herons and egrets. 

Snowy Egrets can be found around the refuge in our various wetland areas. The snowy egret in the photographs was spotted in White Springs.

(Photos by Tom Ress)