Can be told apart from the Great Egret in the foreground (they were both there next to each other!) The great white heron is a color phase of the great blue, found in southern Florida. Nesting habitat is primarily on mangrove islands within Great White Heron … Egret. In the family Ardeidae, there are 64 different species which have been identified and are recognized. What is the difference between Egrets and Herons? This majestic, albescent bird is also known as the Great White Heron, or simply, the Great Egret… by the color of the legs and by the tail feathers. It didn’t look like a great blue heron, because it was an all-white bird, and great blue herons have a distinctive gray-blue color with a black band behind the eye. Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. Ah, but look at the legs. Stork. The herons(or Dave Bird) are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 64 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. That narrowed down the choices to an egret or a heron, although an egret is technically a type of heron. Great Blue Heron (white phase) Ardea herodias occidentalis. A large, all-white heron with a yellow bill and black legs. Great white egrets can look similar to little egrets, but they are much larger - the same size as the familiar grey heron. As the name suggests, the great white egret is a large, white heron. The elegant Great Egret is a dazzling sight in many a North American wetland. They hunt in classic heron fashion, standing immobile or wading through wetlands to capture fish with a deadly jab of their yellow bill. As the name suggests, this tall, white heron is considerably larger than the similar little egret. Herons and egrets are both long-legged, freshwater, coastal birds. While Little Egret is now relatively common, it can sometimes be confused at distance with a much rarer visitor - Great White Egret. Egret (noun) A plume or tuft of feathers worn as a part of a headdress, or anything imitating such an ornament; an aigrette. They both belong to the same family Ardeidae and have a similar appearance. Quite often I see confusion about whether a large white wading bird is a Great Egret or a Snowy Egret so this morning I thought I’d share some Great and Snowy Egrets I took precisely nine years ago today that might help with size and appearance differences of these two wading birds. As the name suggests, the great white egret is a large, white heron. Once a rare visitor to the UK, sightings have become more common over the last few decades, with several pairs now breeding. The Great Blue Heron can be identified by its pale yellow legs and feet - compared to the blackish legs of the Great Egret. Size: 37 – 41 inches tall, wingspan 51 – 57 inches Slightly smaller and more sleek than great blue herons, great egrets are perhaps one of the most elegant birds of North America. • Both egrets and herons are medium to large size birds, but the largest species are among herons, more often. Is This a Heron, Egret or Crane? This beautiful species is a constant resident in Florida and Louisiana, where thousands are seen during winter, and where many remain during the breeding season. 25 years ago the sighting of any White Heron in the UK would have been greeted with excitement. Egret (noun) If it's smaller with a dark bill and yellow feet, it's a Snowy Egret. Cattle and snowy egrets are both medium sized white birds. This video also helps separate GW Egret from 'white' or leucistic Grey Herons. An egret is really a type of heron, usually white and with fine plumes that develop during breeding season. The first two show images the faces of the two birds. Well, let me complicate it a little. Simple enough? 25 years ago the sighting of any White Heron in the UK would have been greeted with excitement. Nesting occurs throughout the year, with a pronounced peak between November and February. Egret. Slightly smaller and more svelte than a Great Blue Heron, these are still large birds with impressive wingspans. The "great white heron" could be confused with the great egret (Ardea alba), but is larger, with yellow legs as opposed to the great egret's black legs.