| Little Egret (Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766)) |
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Scientific name: Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) Common name: Little Egret Other names: Héron blanc French name: Aigrette garzette Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae Size: 55 to 65 cm, 350 to 550g. Habitat: Open inland and coastal wetlands. Areas with shallow water around lakes, near river banks, swamps, estuaries. Food: Small fishes, frogs, crustaceans, molluscs and insects. Nesting: The Little Egret breeds in colonies. Nests are platforms made up of sticks or reeds and located at a height of about 20 meters. females lay 3 to 5 eggs late April or early May. Migration: Sedentary, northern birds move southwards in winter. Geographic area: Temperate areas of Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Some birds start to breed in Bahamas and some were observed in the Caribbean's. |
The Little Egret has a lengthy body and a white plumage. The bill is long, thin and black. The legs are black with yellow feet. In the breeding season, Little Egrets have two long nape plumes and other long plumes on the back and on the breast. The bare skin between the bill and the eyes becomes red or blue. |
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You can observe many Little Egrets in the oyster beds and the salt pans on the Île d'Oléron. |
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Isn't it because it was hunted for its plumes in the old days that the Little Egret is now so shy? |
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The shallow water of the Lake of Canet-en-Roussillon are a suitable habitat for Little Egrets. |
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Like other herons, the Little Egret flies with folded neck into the shoulders. You can clearly see the yellow tip of the legs on this picture. There is just the background of the picture which could be better. |
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Here we are at the very beginning of a one-day boat tour in the Danube Delta. The main goal is of course bird watching and the Little Egrets are the first to show up. |
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Little Egrets are quite common in my native region of the "Basse Vallée du Doubs" in France and I notice that all my photos were taken quite far away from there. I will work to correct this. |
André Bon November 2024