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Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
{Species
Archive Index}
photo ©FMNP
Identifiers- white body, black legs, yellow feet, yellow
lores,
breeding plumes, dark bill
- 20-27"
Adaptations- thin bill, yellow feet lure prey
Status-
state species of Special Concern
Distribution-
California, Oklahoma, U.S. east coast
Habitat- coastal
beaches, salt marshes, mangroves, occasionally freshwater ponds
Reproduction- 2-5 blue eggs, stick nests, rookeries mixed with
other heron species
Diet- frogs, snakes, worms, insects, fish, crustaceans
Fun facts
- males strongly territorial and aggressive
- males court females for up to 5-days, elaborate displays
- nearly hunted to extinction during early plume trade
- some scientists believe these birds are one of the lower forms on the
scale of bird life due to their primitive nests and elliptical
(reptile-like) egg shape
{Species
Archive Index} |
