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Bird Identification

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Great Egret

Ardea alba, Length: 39"

Look for:

The Great Egret is a tall, slim, all-white bird with a long yellow bill and long all-black legs. It can appear extremely tall when the long neck is extended, or smaller when the neck is pulled in close to the body. Lacks the long showy plumes of other herons and egrets.

Listen for:

Low, unmusical croaks and harsh squawks.

Remember:

Other white egrets are smaller. The Snowy Egret has black legs with yellow feet. The whitemorph Reddish Egret has gray legs and a pink and black bill. The Cattle Egret is half the Great Egret's size and has a stubby bill by comparison.

Wow!

Great Egret plumes adorned women's hats in the late 1800s, and this nearly resulted in the species' extinction. Conservation efforts saved the egrets.

This profile is an excerpt from The Young Birder's Guide by Bill Thompson, III. Purchase an autographed copy from our nature store, and check out other BWD titles designed to help you identify backyard birds.

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The Backyard Bird Watcher's Answer Guide

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An Identification Guide to Common Backyard Birds

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Identifying and Feeding Birds

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