GREAT EGRET

(214*)                    GREAT EGRET               Ardea alba

USA                2

The great egret, also known as the common egret, large egret, or (in the Old World) great white egret or great white heron, is a large, widely distributed egret. The four subspecies are found in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and southern Europe. 

GREAT EGRET

 

Photographed at Kampong Phluk Floating Village, Siem Reap, Cambodia, November 2023

(* 214)              GREAT EGRET                    Ardea alba

CAMBODIA                 39

Migrant to coastal mudflats, mangroves, estuaries, water bodies with well-vegetated fringes and occasionally wet grasslands. 91 cm. Distribution: widespread across much of Americas, Eurasia, Africa and Australia; most northern populations migrate to winter in the tropics.

WHITE HERON

Photographed at Miranda, June 2017

(*   241)                WHITE HERON                Ardea modesta

NEW ZEALAND                54

Known in Australia as Great Egret. Found in freshwater wetlands and estuaries, occasionally wet pastures. 92 cm. Very rare native in New Zealand, about 50 pairs breeding at Okarito and the disperse throughout mainland.

GREAT EGRET

Photographed on Langkawi, April 2017

(*   241)                  GREAT EGRET              Ardea alba

MALAYSIA                    51

Found in wide variety of natural and man-made wetlands. 85-100 cm. Mostly migrants in Peninsula Malaysia, a small breeding population.

GREAT EGRET

Subspecies modestus, photographed March 2017

(*  214)                    GREAT EGRET                Casmerodius albus

SRI LANKA                    67

Found on the margins of lagoons, tanks, paddy fields and marshes. 65-72 cm. Fairly common breeding resident in lowlands, and occasionally ascends to hills.

GREAT EGRET

Subspecies modesta photographed in Singapore (Sungei Buloh Wetlands) November 2016

(see   214)              GREAT EGRET                    Ardea alba

SINGAPORE (Sungei Buloh Wetlands)             (81)

Common migrant to coastal mudflats, mangroves, estuaries, water bodies with well-vegetated fringes and occasionally wet grasslands. 91 cm. Distribution: widespread across much of Americas, Eurasia, Africa and Australia; most northern populations migrate to winter in the tropics.

GREAT EGRET

Photographed near Sanur beach, Bali October 2016 

(see   214)              GREAT EGRET                    Ardea alba  

INDONESIA (Bali)         (89)        

Usually found around sheltered coastal wetlands such as mangroves, estuaries and tidal lagoons, and sometimes in freshwater swamps. 90 cm. Distribution: worldwide in warm climates: partly migratory; confirmed resident on Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi; generally scarce non-breeding visitor and possible resident throughout other major islands.

GREAT EGRET

214      GREAT EGRET       Ardea alba

Australia     (214)

Also known as Large or White Egret, or Whit Crane. 76 cm -1 m, span c. 1.5 m. Ranges all over Australia except driest e. WA, nw SA and sw NT. Found in shallow riverbeds, estuaries, tidal mudflats, wetlands, sewerage ponds and irrigation areas.