- Egretta garzetta
Identification
Distribution
Breeds across southern Europe from Iberia to Greece and Turkey, and north to the northern coasts of the Black Sea. In the last few decades has undergone a considerable expansion of range and now breeds in northern France and the Netherlands. In recent years has appeared much more frequently in southern England with breeding first recorded in 1996 and around 100 pairs nesting at eighteen sites in 2001. First breeding in Ireland, Austria and Poland took place in 1997. Range extends eastwards from the Black and Caspian Seas to Korea and Japan and south through South-East Asia and Indonesia to New Guinea, northern and eastern Australia and New Zealand.
In North Africa occurs from the Cape Verde Islands and coastal Mauritania to Tunisia and throughout the Nile delta and valley. More widespread south of the Sahara ranging from Senegal to Somalia and south to South Africa.
Most European birds and west Asian migrate to sub-Saharan Africa but others winter around the Mediterranean, smaller numbers further north. Post-breeding dispersal takes many birds north of main breeding range in late summer and autumn. In Britain Little Egrets can now be seen on estuaries in south Wales and south-west England, along the Channel coast and on the east coast as far as Norfolk. Is resident in the North West and North Wales on the Dee and Mersey. The majority occur from Cornwall to West Sussex and numbers reach a peak in autumn.
Recorded as a vagrant to most European countries out of usual range north and east to Iceland and the Faroe Islands, Norway, Latvia and Belarus, also recorded in the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands (first breeding in 1995). Vagrants also recorded in Trinidad, Martinique and Newfoundland.
Taxonomy
Nominate race occurs from Europe to Japan and in Africa, race nigripes from the Philippines to New Guinea and immaculata in northern and eastern Australia. Some authors consider the Western Reef Egret and Pacific Reef Egret to be races of this species.
Habitat
Slow-flowing rivers, shallow lakes and flooded fields, also on brackish lagoons, estuaries and along shorelines.
Behaviour
Breeds colonially in trees near water. Forms communal roosts where birds from a large area gather at dusk.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Egretta garzetta (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
