Wader 13/60 - Great Egret

The Great Egret is a large heron with all-white plumage. Standing up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, this species can measure 80 to 104 cm (31 to 41 in) in length and have a wingspan of 131 to 170 cm (52 to 67 in).   The Great Egret can be distinguished from other white egrets by its yellow bill and black legs and feet, though the bill may become darker and the lower legs lighter in the breeding season. In breeding plumage, delicate ornamental feathers are borne on the back. Males and females are identical in appearance; juveniles look like non-breeding adults.

Differentiated from the Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedius) by the gape, which extends well beyond the back of the eye in case of the Great Egret, but ends just behind the eye in case of the Intermediate Egret. It is a common species, usually easily seen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comparison Great & Intermediate

 

 

 

 

 

It has a slow flight, with its neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes the from storks, cranes, ibises, and spoonbills, which extend their necks in flight.

The Great Egret is not normally a vocal bird; at breeding colonies, however, it often gives a loud croaking cuk cuk cuk.

A few Great Egrets breed on the west coast of the Malay peninsula, but none in Singapore (Madoc, in the 1940's, described 70 nests in the mangroves of Pulau Ketam off Port Klang, Malaysia). Great Egrets usually pair for life. During the breeding season both males and females develop a delicate cloak of long white feathers that extend over their backs. Courtship displays include erecting their spectacular lacy breeding plumes some raising their wings or arching their necks. Great Egrets nest in colonies together with other egrets and herons such as Grey and Purple Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons and Milky Storks.

They breed in both freshwater wetlands and saltwater marshes; building nests in medium-sized trees or reedbeds. Their nests are a fragile platform of small sticks, usually over or near water. Sometimes the nest is lined with softer materials like grasses.

1-6, usually 3, pale bluish-green eggs are laid. Both parents take turns to incubate the eggs and to feed the chicks. While most birds do not start incubating their eggs until the full clutch is laid, Great Egrets start incubating as soon as the first egg is laid. Thus Great Egret eggs hatch at different times about 25 days later. Great Egret parents also allow their chicks to squabble over food. Chicks often kill each other. Thus, if there is insufficient food, the strongest (usually the one that hatched first) stands a better chance of surviving. Great Egret chicks also have an unfortunate tendency of climbing out of their nests. They then often fall prey to predators. Few chicks therefore survive to fledge, in 6-7 weeks. Great Egrets reach maturity at 2 years and can live for 22 years.