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| − | + | [[Image:Intermediate_Egret.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|rony_roshtov|rony_roshtov}}]] | |
| − | [[Image:Intermediate_Egret.jpg|thumb| | ||
'''Alternative Name(s): Yellow-billed Egret''' | '''Alternative Name(s): Yellow-billed Egret''' | ||
| − | ;[[:Category: | + | ;[[:Category:Mesophoyx|Mesophoyx]] intermedia |
| − | '' | + | ''Egretta intermedia''<br /> |
''Ardea intermedia'' | ''Ardea intermedia'' | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
In distinguishing this species from [[Great Egret]], notice particularly how Intermediate's gape stops at the rear of the eye, while Great's extends farther back, and how the feathered chin of Intermediate extends farther forward along the gonys. The shorter bill also gives Intermediate's head a more triangular look than the attenuated snake-like head of Great Egret.<br /> | In distinguishing this species from [[Great Egret]], notice particularly how Intermediate's gape stops at the rear of the eye, while Great's extends farther back, and how the feathered chin of Intermediate extends farther forward along the gonys. The shorter bill also gives Intermediate's head a more triangular look than the attenuated snake-like head of Great Egret.<br /> | ||
Legs evidently occur in a range of shades from black to dark yellow. | Legs evidently occur in a range of shades from black to dark yellow. | ||
| − | [[Image:25985int egret f.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|bgopal|bgopal}}<br />Bangalore, [[India]], November 2005]] | + | [[Image:25985int egret f.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|bgopal|bgopal}}<br />Bangalore, [[India]], November 2005<br />Click on image for larger version]] |
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
A widespread Old World species.<br /> | A widespread Old World species.<br /> | ||
| Line 24: | Line 23: | ||
*''plumifera'' ([[Australasia]]). | *''plumifera'' ([[Australasia]]). | ||
| − | Which genus this bird belongs to is not at all clear, it is equally often placed in ''[[Egretta]]'' as in ''[[Mesophoyx]]'' and has even been placed in ''[[Ardea]]'' in the past. | + | Which genus this bird belongs to is not at all clear, it is equally often placed in ''[[:Category:Egretta|Egretta]]'' as in ''[[:Category:Mesophoyx|Mesophoyx]]'' and has even been placed in ''[[:Category:Ardea|Ardea]]'' in the past. |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Freshwaters, including slow-flowing rivers, lakes and swamps, also coastal mudflats and mangroves, sometimes grassland. | Freshwaters, including slow-flowing rivers, lakes and swamps, also coastal mudflats and mangroves, sometimes grassland. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | + | Breeds in colonies, often with other species of herons/egrets. | |
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | {{GSearch| | + | {{GSearch|Egret+intermedia}} |
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Egretta]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Egretta]] | ||
Revision as of 02:32, 6 February 2010
Alternative Name(s): Yellow-billed Egret
- Mesophoyx intermedia
Egretta intermedia
Ardea intermedia
Identification
In distinguishing this species from Great Egret, notice particularly how Intermediate's gape stops at the rear of the eye, while Great's extends farther back, and how the feathered chin of Intermediate extends farther forward along the gonys. The shorter bill also gives Intermediate's head a more triangular look than the attenuated snake-like head of Great Egret.
Legs evidently occur in a range of shades from black to dark yellow.
Distribution
A widespread Old World species.
Found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Sudan and south to South Africa but absent from the most arid and densely forested areas.
Also occurs over much of the Indian subcontinent, east to southern China, southern Korea and southern Japan and south to the Philippines. western Borneo, Sumatra and Java. Further east occurs in southern New Guinea and in Australia mainly in the north and east.
Northern Asian birds are migratory, those from Africa merely dispersive.
Recorded as a scarce spring and summer visitor to the Banc D'Arguin in Mauritania, and a vagrant to the Cape Verde Islands, Egypt and at the Dead Sea in Jordan.
In May 2001 the first Intermediate Egret for Europe was recorded in a small wetland close to Rome, Italy, and remained there until August. In Asia vagrants have been recorded north to Sakhalin.
Australian birds may undergo migratory movements and may occur only in New Guinea in winter.
On May 31st, 2006 a dead Intermediate Egret was found on Buldir Island in Alaska's Aleutian Island chain. It constituted the first record for North America.
Taxonomy
There are three recognized subspecies:
- intermedia (Asia)
- brachyrhyncha (Africa)
- plumifera (Australasia).
Which genus this bird belongs to is not at all clear, it is equally often placed in Egretta as in Mesophoyx and has even been placed in Ardea in the past.
Habitat
Freshwaters, including slow-flowing rivers, lakes and swamps, also coastal mudflats and mangroves, sometimes grassland.
Behaviour
Breeds in colonies, often with other species of herons/egrets.
