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Great Egret

(Ardea alba)
Alternative names: "Egret", "White Crane"
Size: 85 cm - 1.05 m

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Great Egrets inhabit basically the entire coastal fringe around Australia, including Tasmania, and the northern tropics, plus the eastern half of the continent. They are not found in the arid interior of WA, the south-western corner of the NT and western SA. As opposed to other species of Egrets, Great Egrets are found along the south coast around the Great bight. In the semi-arid dry interior they are found mostly after substantial rainfall events.

Great Egrets are found in the shallows of various kinds of wetlands, including flooded grassland, and in estuaries and intertidal mudflats.

Sightings

Great Egrets are found along waterways in many parts of Australia. We have seen them in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and also in the Narrabri area, NSW, wherever there is water, swamp- or marshland. Also seen by us in various locations, especially (near-)coastal wetlands, in central QLD in July 2009.

Also seen by us in December 2009 in Oman.

Photos

Portrait of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage; the tip of the bill is just turning dark at the start of the breeding season

Lateral view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage

Great Egret hunting in shallow water; the last jab missed its target

Here a bird hunting at the foot of a cascade...

...with success - albeit a bit ambitious

Great Egret on its lookout

View from behind of a Great Egret craning its neck to check who is approaching. Note the breeding plumage and colour of the bill

View from behind of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage

Great Egret in flight, seen from underneath

Lateral view of a Great Egret in flight

Here a bird seen hovering in high wind

Great Egret in flight, seen from behind

A whole array of aquatic birds hunting/foraging in O'Brien's Creek at Narrabri, NSW: three White-necked Herons, two Australian White Ibis in breeding plumage, two Great Egrets, one Purple Swamphen, one Dusky Moorhen and two Pacific Black Ducks

Here a Great Egret in flight (front left), together with an Intermediate Egret in the background; the main distinction between the two is in the lores, which extend to behind the eye for the Great Egret, but not for the Intermediate Egret

This photo allows a comparison of the relative sizes of a Cattle Egret (centre), a Great Egret (left) and an Intermediate Egret (right); all of them are searching for nesting material under a tree after a violent storm

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - May Eggs: 2 - 5 Incubation period: 25 - 26 days Fledging age: 60 days

The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Great Egrets breed Mar - May, which is late in the wet season. Given the right conditions Great Egrets can breed any time of the year. They breed in colonies, together with other aquatic birds. Their nests are usually the ones at the very tops of trees, with other species nesting lower.

Nest

Type: Basket Material: Sticks Height above ground: 10 - 30 m

Seen nesting, together with other aquatic birds, along the shores of Narrabri Lake during the breeding season of 2008 and subsequent years.

Near-frontal view of a Great Egret standing on its nest

Eggs

Size: 52 x 36 mm Colour: Light blue Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Dispersive Elementary unit: Pair/flock

Birds have special courtship rituals that vary from species to species.

Additional information

Click here to see a male Great Egret's display to woo a female.

Food

All egrets and herons prey on aquatic creatures in fresh water or estuaries (fish, frogs, snakes or crustaceans). Great Egrets will take any of those.