Ardea alba egretta

(Gmelin, 1789)

Vernacular names
English : Western great egret
French : Grande aigrette

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Pelecaniformes
Family : Ardeidae
Notes : 3 other subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach up to 104 cm in length for a wingspan of 1.70 m and a weight up to 1.7 kg. Plumage is entirely white. Elongated plumes on wings, used for display. This subspecies has a clear bill and entirely black legs.

Range and habitat
This subspecies occurs from south Canada to south Argentina and Caribbean Islands. Species found in Europe, subsaharan Africa and western Asia to Iran. Lives in all kinds of coastal and inland wetlands, agricultural areas, up to 4000 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species declined during the XIXth Century because of the plume trade. Now it has recovered in most areas and remains common in its range.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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