How many great egrets are there

Scientific Name: Ardea alba. Type: Birds. Diet: Carnivore. Size: Body: 37 to 41 inches; wingspan: 4. Weight: 2. Size relative to a 6-ft man:. Least concern. Least Concern Extinct. Current Population Trend: Unknown. This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. Follow us on Instagram at natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo. Share Tweet Email. Go Further.

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Animals Wild Cities Morocco has 3 million stray dogs. Also forages in open fields, sometimes around cattle. Pale blue-green. Incubation is by both sexes, days. Young: Both parents feed young, by regurgitation. Young may clamber out of nest at 3 weeks, able to fly at weeks. Both parents feed young, by regurgitation. Mostly fish. Aside from fish, also eats crustaceans, frogs, salamanders, snakes, aquatic insects. In open fields may catch grasshoppers, rodents. Has been seen catching small rails and other birds.

Probably first breeds at age of years. Sometimes nests in isolated pairs, usually in colonies, often mixed with other wading birds, cormorants, Anhingas. In mixed colonies, Great Egrets tend to nest high. 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.

They eat fish, insects and frogs, which they catch by spearing them with their long, sharp beaks. The species was previously hunted to obtain the beautiful long-white feathers which formed part of its breeding plumage, which were often used in fashion. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later?

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