Great egret : Ardea albus


Kingdom : Animal
   Phylum : Chordata
          Class : Aves
               Order : Ciconiiformes
                    Family : Ardeidae
                         Genus : Ardea
                              Species : albus

Description:

The Great Egret is about 1 meter long (3ft); it is one of the largest birds among the herons and egrets.
Great egret, Photo by David Byres As described by its species name, the Great Egret is all white.

It has black legs and feet and a yellow bill.

During the breeding season, this egret has long white plumes that hang down from its back past the tail, and a patch of bluish green on its face near the bill.

The breeding season begins in late December and extends into July, with a peak from late March to late May. Nesting usually occurs in large colonies, with numbers of birds sometimes reaching in the thousands. The male and female build a nest of sticks from 2-12 m high in a tree or shrub.


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