Reddish egret Egretta rufescens

Identification Tips:

• Length: 25 inches Wingspan: 46 inches
• Sexes similar
• Medium-sized, long-legged, long-necked wader
• Bill fairly long and pointed
• Pink-based bill with black tip
• Dark legs and feet
• Sometimes actively feeds by flapping wings and running through shallow water
• Usually holds neck in an "S" curve at rest and in flight

Adult-dark morph:

• Blue-gray body
• Brownish head and neck with shaggy plumes

Adult-white morph:

• White body
• White head and neck with shaggy plumes

Immature:

• Brown body, head, and neck

Similar species:

In all plumages the heavy, pink-based bill and shaggy neck are diagnostic. The dark Little Blue Heron is somewhat similar but has a gray-based bill and is smaller without the shaggy neck. Tricolored Heron has a white belly. White morph birds are similar to egrets and other white phase herons but note the different bill and leg colors.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.