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A stocky egret that is larger than Eastern Cattle and Little Egrets, but smaller than the Great Egret.
WA: Rare; NT: Critically Endangered
Indigenous: Plumed Egret
At a glance
FamilyHerons, Egrets, and Bitterns
SizeLarge
RarityCommon
HabitatMarshes, estuaries, river edges, mangroves, mudflats, and shallow water.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from February to April.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Powys, V.
Range map
Range map
193visible hotspots
532visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Plumage white with long ornamental plumes during breeding. Distinguished from Great Egret by smaller size, shorter bill, and shorter neck with a more rounded head. Bill turns red-orange in courtship.
Behavior
Things to look for include a yellow bill (red-orange during courtship) that is shorter than Great Egret but longer than Eastern Cattle Egret, a relatively rounded head, and shorter legs than Great Egret, approaching Eastern Cattle Egret. Like most egret species, associates with all types of water bodies including wet fields and usually flocks with other egrets.
Gallery