I saw this great egret have three successful strikes during the 20 minutes or so I watched him. Each species account is written by leading ornithologists and provides detailed information on bird distribution, migration, habitat, diet, sounds, behavior, breeding, current population status, and conservation. Adult Snowy Egrets develop long and wispy plumes on their back, head, and neck during the breeding season. It's famous, and so I wanted to check it out. The Great Egret walks with its neck extended and its wings held close to its body. It has white feathers, a yellow patch of skin around its eyes, a black bill and black legs with bright yellow feet. Little Blue Heron vs Snowy Egret. The diet of the snowy egret primarily consists of shrimp, small fish, and small invertebrates. Much of this behavior recalls Reddish Egret or Tricolored Heron, and is never engaged in by Great Egret or Little Blue Heron. Great Egrets form monogamous pairs each breeding season, though it’s not known whether the pair bond lasts through multiple years. The snowy egret begins breeding around late March to early April. Behavior. Behavior. Energy efficient prey size selection has been noted in both the Snowy Egret and closely related Little Egret {E. … I was down on the west coast of Florida for work a couple weeks ago and had time before my flight on Saturday to sneak out to the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Snowy Egret. habits provide one of the best clues to the identity of foraging birds (see above) wingtips show small dark gray tips on outer primaries (vs all white on Snowy Egret) The Snowy Egret is a conspicuous and elegant member of the heron family. Discover the Flyway from Home – Resources for Teachers, Parents & Students Snowy Egret Foraging Behavior. The plume trade was a sordid business. A tall, stately white wader of quiet waters. Common, especially in the south, it may wander far to the north in late summer. Medium in build, this egret can be identified by its snow white coloration, lengthy sharp black bill, and strikingly yellow lore and feet. In flight, it is graceful and buoyant, with its neck tucked back against its shoulders and its legs trailing behind. Last week we watched the snowy chase after fish by running and flying. The snowy egret is about two feet in length and has a wingspan of about three feet. In breeding season, it has lacy plumes on its head, neck and back. (1973) suggested that egrets use feeding behaviors that maximize energy intake and minimize energy expenditure under specific environmental conditions. It feeds in fresh and salt water habitats within flocks of other wading birds. In open fields they may also follow cattle or large animals to grab prey as the insects are flushed out by the walking animals. Cool Snowy Egret Behavior in Florida. This species nests with other wading birds in swamps and mangroves on islands. Unlock thousands of full-length species accounts and hundreds of bird family overviews when you subscribe to Birds of the World. Snowy Egret Foraging Behavior. Posted by NickL at 5:50 PM. Watch the video of a Snowy Egret foraging for invertebrates and discuss why it uses it foot in such an interesting way. (A snowy egret specimen from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s ornithology collections, above, documents the bird’s showy splendor.) Similar to the Reddish Egret, the Snowy Egret will vary its feeding behavior for the sit and wait approach to walking or running in shallow water to chase its prey. Males and females look alike. - … While great egrets use two, energy-conserving hunting strategies (standing and stalking), snowy egrets use lots of different and mostly energetic methods.