Egret

Egret, name given to various species of heron, especially those having white plumage and bearing long, soft plumes on the lower parts of their backs during the breeding season. The great egret, about 100 cm (40 in) long, is the only species native to both America and Eurasia; it nests from southern Canada south throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean, and widely in Eurasia from central Europe and Japan south to Africa and New Zealand. Two other egrets native to the Americas are the abundant, small snowy egret, 60 cm (24 in), and the uncommon reddish egret, 74 cm (29 in). The reddish egret occurs in two colour phases, one white and the other slate blue with a maroon head and neck. All three American egrets were nearly exterminated because hunters indiscriminately slaughtered the adult birds during the nesting season for their valuable plumes, known in the millinery trade as aigrettes. Protective legislation subsequently ensured that they survived.

The African subspecies of the cattle egret is now established also throughout the Americas. It is a small egret, 50 cm (20 in) long, and is white with buff plumes on head, back, and breast during the breeding season. It feeds mainly on insects and lizards disturbed by grazing cattle. The little egret of the Mediterranean region has also been lucky to survive the former trade in its feathers.

Scientific classification: Egrets belong to the family Ardeidae of the order Ciconiiformes. The great egret is classified as Casmerodius albus, the snowy egret as Egretta thula, the reddish egret as Egretta rufescens, and the African subspecies of the cattle egret as Bubulcus ibis. The little egret is classified as Egretta garzetta.