A small, agile heron that graces wetlands, rivers, and lakes across a wide geographical range that includes much of Africa, Asia, and Europe. This bird is notable for its pristine white plumage, contrasting black legs and bill, and strikingly yellow feet that seem to glow against the muddy waters of its feeding grounds.
The Little Egret is a master hunter, using its long, sharp bill to spear prey with remarkable accuracy. Its diet consists of a variety of aquatic animals, including fish, amphibians, small reptiles, crustaceans, and insects. The egret’s hunting strategy is versatile, sometimes standing still and waiting for prey to come near, other times moving through the water with stealthy grace, creating disturbances to flush out hidden prey.
During the breeding season, the Little Egret is particularly stunning, adorned with elegant nuptial plumes on the back, which it uses to attract a mate. These long, wispy feathers were once in high demand as decorations for hats, leading to a dramatic decline in egret populations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Conservation efforts, including legal protections, have since helped their numbers recover.
Little Egrets nest in colonies, often with other heron species, in large trees or reed beds close to water bodies. The construction of the nest is a cooperative effort between mates, using sticks and reeds to form a sturdy platform. Both parents participate in incubating the eggs and feeding the hatchlings.
The bird’s role in the ecosystem is significant as it helps control populations of various aquatic species, which might otherwise reach pest proportions. Their presence also indicates a healthy environment, as egrets tend to thrive in clean and productive wetlands.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belgium
Benin
Bhutan
Bosnia And Herz.
Botswana
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Is. (Keeling)
Congo-Brazzaville
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
East Timor
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Islands
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea
Kuwait
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Martinique
Mauritania
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Niger
Nigeria
Nort. Mariana Is.
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre
Saint Vincent
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts & Nevis
Sudan
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
São Tomé & Príncipe
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Turkey
UAE
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!
Suggest an editGet to know me
Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
