The great egret (Ardea alba) is a large and graceful wading bird with a wide distribution across the globe. Its diet is diverse and adaptable, allowing it to thrive in a variety of wetland habitats. This article will delve into the dietary habits of the great egret, exploring its preferred prey, foraging techniques, and the factors that influence its feeding behavior.
Physical Characteristics and Distribution
The great egret is a striking bird, standing a little over three feet tall with a wingspan approaching five feet. Its plumage is entirely white, lending it an air of elegance. It possesses a long, sharp yellow bill and long gray to black legs, terminating in non-webbed feet with elongated toes. Males and females are similar in appearance, although males tend to be slightly larger. The great egret is also known by a variety of other names, including the American Egret, the Common Egret, the Large Egret, the White Egret, the Great White Egret, and the Great White Heron.
This species boasts a broad distribution. In North America, its breeding range extends along the Pacific Coast from Oregon to western Mexico. It can also be found in the central United States, ranging from Minnesota south to the Mississippi Valley and along the Gulf Coast. On the Atlantic Coast, its breeding range spans from southern New England to Florida. During the winter months, the great egret's range shifts. On the Pacific Coast, it winters from Oregon to Mexico, while on the Atlantic Coast, it winters along the coast from New Jersey south to Florida and along the Gulf Coast. The great egret is also a resident of Central and South America.
Great egrets favor habitats near water bodies, including streams, lakes, saltwater and freshwater marshes, muddy areas, and ponds.
Foraging Behavior and Techniques
Great egrets are diurnal feeders, meaning they are active during the day. They often feed alone in shallow water, although they may also forage in flocks, sometimes in association with other heron species, cormorants, and ibises. The great egret employs a distinctive hunting strategy, stalking prey with deliberate, slow movements. When it spots its prey, it pulls its head and long neck back, then swiftly strikes with its bill to capture the unsuspecting victim. This technique is particularly effective in shallow water, where the egret can easily spot and capture its prey. The Great egret usually feeds, walking in water. However, it can occasionally be seen swimming to catch prey.
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Sometimes stealing food from smaller birds. Also forages in open fields, sometimes around cattle.
Dietary Preferences: A Carnivorous Piscivore
Great egrets are primarily carnivores, with a diet heavily reliant on fish, classifying them as piscivores. Their usual diet consists primarily of fish. However, they are opportunistic feeders and will consume a wide variety of aquatic animals, including frogs, crustaceans, salamanders, snakes, and aquatic insects. On land, they may also stalk small mammals like moles and mice, and have even been observed catching grasshoppers, rodents, small rails, and other birds.
Communication and Aggression During Feeding
Great egrets utilize various forms of communication. Thus, they frequently use vocalizations such as harsh, low "corr" sound. As with many bird species, Great egrets become rather aggressive when it comes to feeding, even if there's an abundance of food. Meanwhile, defending their territory, these birds give out sharp yelling sounds and leap at the opponent, hitting him with their beak.
Breeding and Nesting Habits
Great egrets are seasonally monogamous, mating once in a mating season and staying with their mates until the end of the season. The breeding season typically commences in mid-April, with males performing elaborate displays to attract females. The male great egret chooses the nesting site and builds a nest platform of sticks and twigs in a tree or bush before he selects a mate. Occasionally, the great egret will build its nest on dry ground near a marsh. They build their nests in wetlands or wooded swamps with these of other herons, usually nesting in colonies. In mixed colonies, Great Egrets tend to nest high. They try to construct their nests as high as possible. Nest: Site is in tree or shrub, usually 10-40' above ground or water, sometimes very low in thicket or marsh, sometimes up to 90' high in tall cypress.
The female great egret lays three to five pale green-blue eggs. 3-4, sometimes 1-6. Pale blue-green. An average egret clutch contains 3 to 4 eggs. The eggs take about three to four weeks to incubate. Incubation is by both sexes, 23-26 days. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks. Both parents feed young, by regurgitation. Young may clamber out of nest at 3 weeks, able to fly at 6-7 weeks. After 3 weeks, the chicks start to climb about the nest. Then, after another 3-4 weeks, the young fledge. If the nest is on the ground, the chicks will walk around the nest before they fledge. Both the male and female aggressively defend the nesting territory.
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Nest (built by both sexes) a platform of sticks, sometimes substantial. Great egrets rear one brood of chicks a year.
Threats and Conservation Status
In the past, Great egrets were highly threatened due to their feathers, used in the plume trade. Millions of North American birds were killed for their feathers in the late 19th and early 20th century. Hunters would kill birds and take their feathers and often leave young chicks alone to fend for themselves. Entire populations of terns, herons, and egrets were destroyed all along the Atlantic Coast. Nowadays, these birds suffer from the loss and degradation of their wetland habitat due to the invasion of exotic plants, excessive salinity, burning, clearing, drainage, and grazing.
The exact number of their global population is presently unknown. However, only in North America, there are around 180,000 estimated breeding pairs of this bird. The European population of Great egrets is estimated at 20,700-34,900 pairs. On one hand, these birds control populations of fish and insects within their range.
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