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Difference between revisions of "Snowy Egret" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Snowy_Egret.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Breeding adult<br />Photo by: {{user|Peacefrog2|Peacefrog2}}<br />San Diego, [[California]]]]
 
;[[:Category:Egretta|Egretta]] thula
 
;[[:Category:Egretta|Egretta]] thula
 
[[Image:Snowy_Egret.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Breeding adult<br />Photo by: {{user|Peacefog 2|Peacefog 2}}<br />San Diego, [[California]]]]
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
55-65 cm<br />
+
(18¾-26¾ in) 47·5–68 cm <br />
 
*All white plumage
 
*All white plumage
 
*Nape plume (longer in summer)
 
*Nape plume (longer in summer)
Line 10: Line 9:
 
*The area between the nostrils and eyes, is yellow but turns red during the breeding season (February-July).<br />
 
*The area between the nostrils and eyes, is yellow but turns red during the breeding season (February-July).<br />
 
'''Juvenile''': similar to the adult; bill base is paler. The legs have a green or yellow line down the back.
 
'''Juvenile''': similar to the adult; bill base is paler. The legs have a green or yellow line down the back.
====Confusion Species====
+
====Similar Species====
 
[[Little Egret]]<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>
 
[[Little Egret]]<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>
 +
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 +
[[Image:IMG 8136c.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|macshark|macshark}}<br />Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto, [[California]], June 2009]]
 
Breeds in [[North America]] on the east coast from Long Island south to Florida, on the Gulf Coast and inland in the lower Mississippi Valley, on the southern California coast and also in scattered inland areas mainly from the Central Valley of California east to Colorado. To the south breeds on both Mexican coasts and over much of [[Central America]] and in [[South America]] south to Valdivia in [[Chile]] in the west and Buenos Aires, [[Argentina]] in the east.
 
Breeds in [[North America]] on the east coast from Long Island south to Florida, on the Gulf Coast and inland in the lower Mississippi Valley, on the southern California coast and also in scattered inland areas mainly from the Central Valley of California east to Colorado. To the south breeds on both Mexican coasts and over much of [[Central America]] and in [[South America]] south to Valdivia in [[Chile]] in the west and Buenos Aires, [[Argentina]] in the east.
 
   
 
   
 
Northernmost and inland populations are migratory and move southwards, coastal birds are more sedentary but post-breeding dispersal takes some birds north to southern [[Canada]].  
 
Northernmost and inland populations are migratory and move southwards, coastal birds are more sedentary but post-breeding dispersal takes some birds north to southern [[Canada]].  
[[Image:d08_2172.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Adult in non-breeding plumage and coloration<br /> Photo by {{user|Gary+Clark|Gary Clark}}<br />Acapulco, [[Mexico]]]]
+
 
 
In the [[Western Palearctic]] recorded three times in or near [[Iceland]], and five have been seen in the [[Azores]]. The first, and so far only, [[Britain|British]] record was of an immature on Seil Island in Argyll, [[Scotland]] in October 2001 and still present in the general area in June 2002. After a brief disappearance it turned up again on the [[Caerlaverock Wetland Centre|Solway Firth]] in September 2002.  
 
In the [[Western Palearctic]] recorded three times in or near [[Iceland]], and five have been seen in the [[Azores]]. The first, and so far only, [[Britain|British]] record was of an immature on Seil Island in Argyll, [[Scotland]] in October 2001 and still present in the general area in June 2002. After a brief disappearance it turned up again on the [[Caerlaverock Wetland Centre|Solway Firth]] in September 2002.  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 +
[[File:Snowy_Egret_STF.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|STEFFRO1|Robert Steffens}}<br />Huntington Beach State Park, [[South Carolina]], [[USA]], 8 July 2020]]
 
Slightly larger western USA birds are sometimes separated as ''brewsteri''.
 
Slightly larger western USA birds are sometimes separated as ''brewsteri''.
 
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
 
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
 
*''E. t. thula'':
 
*''E. t. thula'':
 +
:*Locally from [[US]] to central [[Argentina]] and [[West Indies]]
 +
 +
*''E. t. brewsteri'':
 
:*Western [[US]] to [[Baja California]] and coastal north-western [[Mexico]]
 
:*Western [[US]] to [[Baja California]] and coastal north-western [[Mexico]]
*''E. t. brewsteri'':
 
:*Locally from [[US]] to central [[Argentina]] and [[West Indies]]
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Lakeshores and riverbanks, mangroves, shallow lagoons and on tidal mudflats and estuaries, sometimes on grasslands.
 
Lakeshores and riverbanks, mangroves, shallow lagoons and on tidal mudflats and estuaries, sometimes on grasslands.
[[Image:IMG 8136c.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|macshark|macshark}}<br />[[Baylands Nature Preserve]], Palo Alto, [[California]], June 2009]]
 
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
 
Colonial nesters, forming flat, shallow nests made of sticks and lined with fine twigs and rushes. Three or four greenish-blue, oval eggs are incubated by both adults. The young leave the nest in 20 to 25 days.
 
Colonial nesters, forming flat, shallow nests made of sticks and lined with fine twigs and rushes. Three or four greenish-blue, oval eggs are incubated by both adults. The young leave the nest in 20 to 25 days.
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
The diet includes fish, crustaceans, and insects, which are hunted in shallow water.
+
The diet consists of shrimps, small fish, frogs, molluscs, crustaceans, and insects, which are hunted in shallow water.
 
==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}
+
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#[http://ttbsdc.ttfnc.org/SECB/records/idlittlesnowyegret.html An identification essay] comparing Little and Snowy Egrets
#[http://secrb.trinidadbirding.com/idlittlesnowyegret.html An identification essay] comparing Little and Snowy Egrets
+
#Parsons, K. C. and T. L. Master (2020). Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.snoegr.01
 
#Wikipedia
 
#Wikipedia
 
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
 
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 +
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Egretta_thula}}
+
Search the Gallery using the scientific name:
 +
{{GSearch|"Egretta thula"}}
 +
Search the Gallery using the common name:
 +
{{GSearch|"Snowy Egret"}}
 +
{{GS-checked}}
 
<br />
 
<br />
{{Video|Snowy_Egret}}
+
<br />
 +
 
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Egretta]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Egretta]]

Latest revision as of 20:31, 4 March 2022

Breeding adult
Photo by: Peacefrog2
San Diego, California
Egretta thula

Identification

(18¾-26¾ in) 47·5–68 cm

  • All white plumage
  • Nape plume (longer in summer)
  • Thin black bill
  • Long black legs with yellow feet
  • The area between the nostrils and eyes, is yellow but turns red during the breeding season (February-July).

Juvenile: similar to the adult; bill base is paler. The legs have a green or yellow line down the back.

Similar Species

Little Egret[2]

Distribution

Photo by macshark
Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto, California, June 2009

Breeds in North America on the east coast from Long Island south to Florida, on the Gulf Coast and inland in the lower Mississippi Valley, on the southern California coast and also in scattered inland areas mainly from the Central Valley of California east to Colorado. To the south breeds on both Mexican coasts and over much of Central America and in South America south to Valdivia in Chile in the west and Buenos Aires, Argentina in the east.

Northernmost and inland populations are migratory and move southwards, coastal birds are more sedentary but post-breeding dispersal takes some birds north to southern Canada.

In the Western Palearctic recorded three times in or near Iceland, and five have been seen in the Azores. The first, and so far only, British record was of an immature on Seil Island in Argyll, Scotland in October 2001 and still present in the general area in June 2002. After a brief disappearance it turned up again on the Solway Firth in September 2002.

Taxonomy

Photo © by Robert Steffens
Huntington Beach State Park, South Carolina, USA, 8 July 2020

Slightly larger western USA birds are sometimes separated as brewsteri.

Subspecies[1]

  • E. t. thula:
  • E. t. brewsteri:

Habitat

Lakeshores and riverbanks, mangroves, shallow lagoons and on tidal mudflats and estuaries, sometimes on grasslands.

Behaviour

Breeding

Colonial nesters, forming flat, shallow nests made of sticks and lined with fine twigs and rushes. Three or four greenish-blue, oval eggs are incubated by both adults. The young leave the nest in 20 to 25 days.

Diet

The diet consists of shrimps, small fish, frogs, molluscs, crustaceans, and insects, which are hunted in shallow water.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. An identification essay comparing Little and Snowy Egrets
  3. Parsons, K. C. and T. L. Master (2020). Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.snoegr.01
  4. Wikipedia
  5. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

Recommended Citation

External Links

Search the Gallery using the scientific name:

Search the Gallery using the common name:

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.

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