Snowy Egret ( Egretta thula )
- Sent by Rodrigo Girardi Santiago - 06/12/2006
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60cm
Identification: there are four mostly white species of egrets in Brazil, the snowy egret can be told apart by its smaller size and also for having the tip of the beak black and for having dark legs with yellow feet. Laypeople usually think this species is a young great egret, however it is technically different enough to be place in another genus.
It is bit more demanding than the great egret regarding its habitat necessities, as it does not occur in polluted waters and is more strongly associated to aquatic plants such as the water lily. Its reduced size allows this bird to walk over the aquatic plants without sinking.
It feeds mainly on small fishes and tadpoles.
The nest is made of quite thick sticks loosely piled together. The female lays from 3 to 6 eggs.
