How long do egrets live

They are monogamous, and both parents incubate their three to four eggs. Young egrets are aggressive towards one another in the nest, and stronger siblings often kill their weaker kin so that not all survive to fledge in two to three weeks.

The great egret is the symbol of the National Audubon Society and represents a conservation success story. The snowy white bird's beautiful plumage made it far too popular in 19th-century North America. Great egrets were decimated by plume hunters who supplied purveyors of the latest ladies' fashions. Their populations plunged by some 95 percent.

Today the outlook is much brighter. The birds have enjoyed legal protection over the last century, and their numbers have increased substantially. All rights reserved. Common Name: Great egrets. Scientific Name: Ardea alba. Type: Birds. Diet: Carnivore.

Male selects nest area and displays there, at first driving away all other birds, later courting females. Courtship displays include calling, circular display flight, stretching neck up with bill pointed skyward. Nest: Site is in tree or shrub, usually ' above ground or water, sometimes very low in thicket or marsh, sometimes up to 90' high in tall cypress.

Nest built by both sexes a platform of sticks, sometimes substantial. Learn more about these drawings. Withdraws in winter from northern breeding areas, wintering only where waters remain open. After breeding season, often wanders far to north in late summer. In s and s there were a few large northward invasions e. Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.

The founding father of American birding soared on the wings of white privilege. The birding community and organizations that bear his name must grapple with this racist legacy to create a more just, inclusive world. The rollback of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was set to take effect February 8, but now the new rule is in trouble.

Latin: Ardea herodias. Latin: Egretta thula. Latin: Grus americana. Animal Diversity Web Cybertracker Tools. All rights reserved. Skip directly to main content. Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species. Critter Catalog. Information Pictures Sounds Classification. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Biogeographic Regions nearctic native What kind of habitat do they need? Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, These animals are found in the following types of habitat temperate terrestrial saltwater or marine freshwater Aquatic Biomes lakes and ponds rivers and streams coastal brackish water Wetlands marsh swamp bog Other Habitat Features riparian estuarine How do they grow?

How do they reproduce? Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Mating System monogamous Great egrets usually build their nests around other egrets. Great egrets breed once per year. Breeding season Breeding season begins in mid-April. Average eggs per season Average time to hatching days Average fledging age weeks Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity female 2 years Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity male 2 years Both males and females aid in incubating and feeding their young.

Burger and Gochfeld, Range lifespan Status: wild Drummond, ; Illinois Department of Natural Resources, ; Kushlan, Key Behaviors flies diurnal motile territorial colonial Home Range There is no information available on the home range for this species at this time.

How do they communicate with each other? Chisholm, ; Oregon Zoo, Communication Channels visual tactile acoustic Perception Channels visual tactile acoustic chemical What do they eat? Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, ; Hill, ; Illinois Department of Natural Resources, As opportunistic predators, great egrets usually feed on smaller aquatic and terrestrial insects and vertebrates and are considered to be heterotrophs.

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, ; Hill, ; Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Primary Diet carnivore piscivore Animal Foods mammals amphibians reptiles fish insects aquatic crustaceans What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten? As predators great egrets affect the populations of their prey.

Do they cause problems? There are no known adverse affects of great egrets on humans. How do they interact with us? Geography Continents. Biome Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest. Temperate grasslands. Tropical savanna. Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub. Desert and Xeric Shrublands. Flooded grasslands and savannas. Tropical moist forests.

Climate zones Tropical. Habits and Lifestyle Great egrets are diurnal feeders. Group name. Diet and Nutrition Great egrets are carnivores piscivores. Diet Carnivore. Serial monogamy. Least concern LC. Population Population threats In the past, Great egrets were highly threatened due to their feathers, used in plume trade. Population number The exact number of their global population is presently unknown.

Ecological niche On one hand, these birds control populations of fish and insects within their range. Fun Facts for Kids In the breeding season, Great egrets develop long ornamental plumes. During courtship rituals, they give displays, fanning out the plumes just like peacocks. This bird is the symbol of the oldest environmental organization in North America, the National Audubon Society, which was originally founded to protect birds, hunted for their feathers. The Great egret usually feeds, walking in water.

However, it can occasionally be seen swimming to catch prey. In addition, the egrets can sometimes hover over the water's surface, looking for prey items as well as dive under the water to catch fish. Great egrets use various forms of communication.