Specie's Page                                                Great White Egret - Large Waders

Great White Egret:

UK Status: Resident, not native first bred in the UK in 2012.

Habitat: This is a large wading water bird, and is a white heron. It frequents large pools and lakes, rivers, streams and estuaries. It prefers shallow silted water, where it likes to hunt for fish, frogs and invertebrates.

Breeding: This species starts breeding at two to three years of age. Males make a large nest of sticks, usually in dense shrubs or trees. Nest can be up to about three feet in diameter, and are lined with plant materials. There can be as many as six bluish green eggs in the single annual clutch. Both parents incubate the eggs, and also both adults feed the chicks. Chicks take six to seven weeks to fledge, and fly the nest.

Comment: Having first successfully nested in the UK on the Avalon Marshes, near to RSPB Ham Wall, in Somerset. This bird has spread rapidly throughout the UK, and has successfully bred. and reared young in Scotland this year of 2024. Although still not a common sight in some parts, chances are in another decade it will be. Migration to the UK can probably be attributed to global warming.

 

UK in 2012 on the Avalon Marshes in Somerset, close to RSPB Ham Wall, and have since expanded their range, moving further north and now into Scotland.

Similar Species: Both the Little Egret and Cattle Egrets are similar. The Cattle Egret is similar in size, but has a yellow bill, and a yellowish to brown mane trailing from its head. The Little Egret is about the same size with a black bill and legs with yellow feet, both the Cattle and Little Egrets are about half, to two thirds if the size of the Great White Egret, and Grey Heron.