5

Great Egret

(Ardea alba)
Alternative names: "Egret", "White Crane"
Size: 0.85-1.05 m; wing span 1.45-1.65 m

Sightings

We first spotted a Great Egret in Oman near a number of water puddles in an otherwise dry riverbed (waadi) in Qurm, near Muscat, Oman, in December 2009.

Previously also spotted by us in Australia, where better photos were obtained.

Photos

Distant frontal view of a Great Egret (back left) and a Little Egret (front right)

Here the same Great Egret as above, now seen from the side

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.

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.