Mar. 6, 2011 - Great Egret and Reddish Egret
Read MoreGreat Egrets really prefer more open areas for feeding. This one was in the large pool at Ding Darling NWR. Sometimes they stand quietly and wait for small fish to swim close by. Then, with a powerful strike, they snatch the fish from the water. At other times they will slowly stalk a fish until they get close enough to grab it. This one is beginning to get the breeding plumes that extend beyond its tail.
Reddish Egrets are found in marshy areas along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. They are not as common as our other herons and egrets. At 27-32” tall, they are medium-sized wading birds. This photo was taken at Ding Darling NWR. Many people are surprised to discover that this species can also be completely white. The white color morph is not as common, and a particular bird is either all white or reddish from birth.
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