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Little EgretAlternative names: "Lesser Egret", "Spotless Egret" Size: 55-65 cm; wing span 88-106 cm Weight: 350-550 g |
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Similar species |
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SUBSECTIONS:
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
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Taxonomy, classification |
See Little Egret
at Wikipedia 
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Click here to display information on habitat,
range and finding this species
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Sightings |
A Little Egret was first spotted by us in the wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, in July 2009.
Click here to display more sighting
information
Little Egrets were also observed by us in Oman.
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Photos |
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Additional information |
More photos were obtained by us in Oman.
Race "nigripes"
Lateral view of a Little Egret in breeding plumage
[O'Brien's Creek, Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]
Lateral view of a Little Egret hunting in shallow water (photo
courtesy of C. Hayne)
This Little Egret is moulting into its non-breeding plumage
and has already lost its plumes
[Urunga Heads, NSW, February 2012]
Little Egret hunting in mangroves
[Urunga Heads, NSW, February 2012]
Near-frontal view of a Little Egret in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy
of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Wivenhoe Dam, QLD, December 2011]
Near-dorsal view of a Little Egret in non-breeding plumage
[Near Walgett, NSW, June 2012]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Oct - Dec | Eggs: 4 - 6 | Incubation period: 20 - 25 days | Fledging age: 35 - 37 days |
The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Little Egrets breed Feb. - June. Given the right conditions, Intermediate Egrets can breed any time of the year. They breed in colonies, together with other aquatic birds.
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "malunna" = Nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Basket | Material: Sticks | Height above ground: 5 - 20 m |
Seen nesting, together with other aquatic birds, along the shores of Narrabri Lake during the breeding season of 2011.
Little Egret on its nest
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]
Same bird and nest as above; view from a different angle; now
a chick can be seen under the adult bird's head
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "nooluk" "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 42 x 30 mm | Colour: Light blue | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair/flock |
Little Egrets have a different hunting behaviour compared to other species of egrets or herons. They perform some kind of "step-dance", with which they walk around their prey to give it the impression of being surrounded. Once the prey is still in the water, they snap it up.
Little Egret in non-breeding plumage stalking around its intended prey,
with the intention
of trapping it in the circle created by the disturbance; the
circle is still visible in the wave pattern at the water surface
[Near Walgett, NSW, June 2012]
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Food, Diet |
All egrets and herons prey on aquatic creatures in fresh water or estuaries (fish, frogs, snakes or crustaceans).
