Peter Boesman
Well-known member
See also vocal analysis: Birds of the WorldBut how do the other subspecies (albus and melanorhynchos) fit in? Both Kushlan and Hancock, and Cristidis and Boles, suggest that egretta should be grouped with albus and melanorhynchos. However, Pratt (2011) argues that the split should be between egretta and the rest, mainly on the basis of breeding plumage. However, Raty's 2014 barcoding tree suggests that albus and egretta are more closely related to each other than to modestus (with low support). It also suggests a species level difference between albus and egretta. Further, all 4 subspecies (including melanorhynchos) have distinctive breeding plumages.
Accordingly, I've split the Great Egret, Casmerodius modestus, into 4 species, based on differences in breeding plumage and, except for melanorhynchos, DNA.
- Eastern Great Egret, Casmerodius modestus,
- Great White Egret, Casmerodius albus,
- African Great Egret, Casmerodius melanorhynchos, and
- American Egret, Casmerodius egretta.
Splitting in the 'Intermediate Egret complex' and not splitting in the 'Great Egret complex' seems inconsistent indeed...