Bird Guide

Great Egret vs Western Cattle Egret

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Large871 gWetland

The great egret is a large heron with all-white plumage. Standing up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall, this species can measure 80 to 104 cm (31 to 41 in) in length with a wingspan of 131 to 170 cm (52 to 67 in). Body mass can range from 700 to 1,500 g (25 to 53 oz), with an average around 1,000 g (35 oz). It is thus only slightly smaller than the great blue or grey heron (A. cinerea). Apart from size, the great egret can be distinguished from other white egrets by its yellow bill and black legs and feet, though the bill may become darker and the lower legs lighter in the breeding season.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Great Egret
Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Alarm call, flight call · Saint-Jean-le-Thomas, Manche, Normandie, France · CC0
Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0
Western Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)

Western Cattle Egret

Ardea ibis

Medium391 g

The cattle egret is a stocky heron with an 88–96 cm (35–38 in) wingspan; it is 46–56 cm (18–22 in) long and weighs 270–512 g (9.5–18.1 oz). It has a relatively short thick neck, a sturdy bill, and a hunched posture. The non-breeding adult has mainly white plumage, a yellow bill and greyish-yellow legs. During the breeding season, adults of the nominate western subspecies develop orange-buff plumes on the back, breast and crown, and the bill, legs and irises become bright red for a brief period prior to pairing.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Alexis Lours · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Great Egret and Western Cattle Egret.