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A peek at Florida's Nature
Snowy Egret
Yellow feet
The Snowy Egret is a small heron that has brilliant white feathers, a long black bill and yellow lores. It has black legs and bright yellow feet. The yellow feet are its unique feature. During breeding time, the Snowy Egret has lacy white plumes and its tail feathers curve sharply upward. Immature Snowy Egrets look very similar to the adults, but they do not have lacy plumes. The immature birds can be identified by a yellow stripe down the back of their legs.
An active hunter
The Snowy is more active than the larger Great Egret. Snowy Egrets pace the shoreline looking for food rather than using the stand and wait method or the slow stalking method common to many of the larger wading birds. The Snowy is often seen with Ibises, Great Egrets and Little Blue Herons - especially when the tide is low, which is when these birds search the shallow water for fish and small crabs.
The Snowy Egret is a small heron that has brilliant white feathers, a long black bill and yellow lores. It has black legs and bright yellow feet. The yellow feet are its unique feature. During breeding time, the Snowy Egret has lacy white plumes and its tail feathers curve sharply upward. Immature Snowy Egrets look very similar to the adults, but they do not have lacy plumes. The immature birds can be identified by a yellow stripe down the back of their legs.
An active hunter
The Snowy is more active than the larger Great Egret. Snowy Egrets pace the shoreline looking for food rather than using the stand and wait method or the slow stalking method common to many of the larger wading birds. The Snowy is often seen with Ibises, Great Egrets and Little Blue Herons - especially when the tide is low, which is when these birds search the shallow water for fish and small crabs.
Snowy Egret - Its yellow feet and yellow lores
are the clues to its identity
Similar to a young Little Blue Heron
The Snowy Egret is sometimes mistaken for the young Little Blue Heron which is white before it turns blue. If you are not sure which one you are observing, keep in mind that the Snowy Egret has a black bill, black legs and yellow feet. The bill, legs and feet of the young Little Blue Heron are light-colored and dull.
The Snowy Egret is sometimes mistaken for the young Little Blue Heron which is white before it turns blue. If you are not sure which one you are observing, keep in mind that the Snowy Egret has a black bill, black legs and yellow feet. The bill, legs and feet of the young Little Blue Heron are light-colored and dull.
Above is a young Little Blue Heron, often mistaken
for the Snowy Egret,
but the Snowy Egret has black legs and yellow feet.
These photos were taken in Palm Harbor, Florida
All photos on this website by J.A. Heintz
All written material by D.C. Heintz
Copyright 2010 D.C. Heintz. All rights reserved.
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