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5

(Eastern) Great Egret (Ardea alba [modesta]) Alternate name(s): "Egret*", "Large Egret", "White Egret", "Eastern Great Egret", "White Crane*" Aboriginal name(s): "moolpa" Size: 0.85-1.05 m; wing span 1.45-1.65 m Weight: 0.7-1.5 kg (1.0 kg average)

Australia: Family Group 5 Family Group 5 Table Great Egret Intermediate Egret Cattle Egret Little Egret Eastern Reef Egret Great-billed Heron White-faced Heron White-necked Heron Pied Heron Rufous Night Heron Striated Heron Black Bittern Australian Little Bittern Australasian Bittern Royal Spoonbill Yellow-billed Spoonbill Australian White Ibis Straw-necked Ibis Glossy Ibis Black-necked Stork Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Great Egrets are the tallest of all Australian egrets. Their plumage is all-white, with long scapular plumes during the breeding season that are absent in eclipse. The long, straight bill, which is yellow in eclipse, turns darker, with a turquoise base, in the breeding season. The long legs are dark-yellow at top and darken to near-black towards the feet. Great Egrets have a particularly pronounced kink in their long necks, which distinguishes them from other species of egrets.

Taxonomy, classification See Great Egret at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Great (White) Egret is available HERE . There are four races of Great (White) Egrets, which are a global sedentary species. Race "alba" is found in Europe and central Asia, race "melanorynchos" in Africa, race "egretta" in the Americas and race "modesta" in India, South-east Asia, Australia and Oceania. In Australia, Great Egrets, race "modesta", inhabit basically the entire coastal fringe of Australia, including Tasmania, and the northern tropics, plus the eastern half of the continent. They are not found in the major deserts in the interior of WA, the south-western corner of the NT and western SA. As opposed to other species of Egrets, Great Egrets are found along the South coast around the Great Bight, including the Nullarbor. In the semi-arid interior they are found mostly after substantial rainfall events. Great Egrets are found in the shallows of various kinds of wetlands, including ephemeral wetlands such as flooded grassland, and in estuaries and intertidal wetlands and mudflats.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "modesta" Great Egrets, race "modesta", have been found by us in a variety of wetlands in many parts of Australia. We have seen Great Egrets in the NT, WA and also in the Narrabri area, NSW, wherever there is water, swamp- or marshland. They were also found by us in various locations, especially in (near-)coastal wetlands, in central QLD in July 2009 and reported to us from various locations along the NSW and QLD coastline. In August 2014 we spotted Great Egrets, race "modesta", in various locations in the Top End of the NT, e.g. at Fogg Dam CR, where P. Brown also finds them regularly. C. Pears reports finding Great Egrets, race "modesta", regularly in Quindalup, WA. They have also been found at Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, in October 2022. D. Dyer reports finding Great Egrets, race "modesta", in Cervantes, WA, in March 2021. J. Greaves reports spotting Great Egrets, race "modesta", occasionally in Perth, WA. D. Wilczynska reports spotting Great Egrets, race "modesta", at Cape Tribulation, Daintree NP, QLD, in March 2015. M. Eaton reports spotting Great Egrets, race "modesta", at the Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, in October 2017. M. Mearns found Great Egrets, race "modesta", in various locations in far-western and north-western QLD in August/September 2019. M. Eaton spotted a Great Egret, race "modesta", at Goulds Lagoon, Hobart, TAS, in April 2021. Race "alba" We have found Great Egrets, race "alba", in Europe and in Oman.

Photos

Race "modesta"

Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a look here .

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

For a period during the breeding season, Great Egrets have a black bill. For only about 1-2 weeks, they also have a turquoise-blue nuptial flush on their lores and their legs may turn red.

With nuptial flush

Near-frontal view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage, black bill and turquoise-blue nuptial flush; note also the dark-red legs
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Wivenhoe Dam, QLD, December 2011]

Near-frontal view of a preening Great Egret in breeding plumage and nuptial flush
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2020]

Close-up lateral portrait of a Great Egret in breeding plumage, black bill and turquoise-blue nuptial flush
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage, black bill and turquoise-blue nuptial flush
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage, black bill and turquoise-blue nuptial flush; note the red legs
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage, black bill and turquoise-blue nuptial flush; note the red legs
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Without nuptial flush

Near-lateral view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage stalking its prey
[Hunter Wetlands NP, Newcastle, NSW, December 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

Lateral view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Salter Point, Canning River, Perth, January 2017]

Great Egret in breeding plumage in flight, seen from underneath
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]

Great Egret in breeding plumage hovering in high wind
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]

Dorsal view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]

During the rest of the breeding season, the bill is usually yellow, often with a black tip.

Full-frontal view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage
[Hunter Wetlands NP, Newcastle, NSW, December 2016]

Frontal view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage, with a veritable "curtain" of filamentary plumes (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]

Lateral view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage, with a veritable "curtain" of filamentary plumes (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Toorbul, Brisbane, QLD, January 2018]

Lateral view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage hunting in reeds (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Herdsman Lake, Perth, WA, December 2014]

While preening this Great Egret displays its breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hunter Wetlands NP, Newcastle, NSW, December 2016]

Dorsal view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage
[Near Narrabri, NSW, 2006]

Comparison of a Great Egret in breeding plumage with an Australasian Swamphen and a (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage
[Pilliga Wetlands Walk, NSW, November 2019]

Near-frontal view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, April 2017]

Near-lateral view of a hunched Great Egret in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulds Lagoon, Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral portrait of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

Close-up lateral view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, August 2021]

Lateral view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[South West Rocks, NSW, July 2017]

Lateral view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)

Lateral view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2007]

Close-up lateral view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Gurambai Trail, Darwin Airport, Darwin, NT, June 2020]

Lateral view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage all puffed up from shaking its body
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cullen Bay, Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage, with just a few whisps of its breeding plumage emerging
(photo courtesy of S. Kirkby)

Near-dorsal view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooroy, QLD, December 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, Gatton, QLD, January 2018]

Dorsal view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

Two Great Egrets on a tiny island in a shallow ephemeral wetland in the middle of otherwise dry woodland
[Near Narrabri, NSW, April 2014]

Frontal comparison between a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage, left, and a juvenile White-necked Heron
[Pilliga Wetlands Walk, Pilliga, NSW, August 2022]

Comparison between different species of egret/heron: Pied Heron at the back, Little Egret, front left, and Great Egret, front right
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, May 2018]

Comparison between a Great Egret and a Royal Spoonbill, both in non-breeding plumage
[Pilliga, NSW, May 2018]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage in low flight
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, October 2020]

Great Egret in non-breeding plumage just after takeoff (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)

Lateral view of an Great Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight, with its neck kinked in the way typical of herons and egrets; here the wings are down
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]

Lateral view of an Great Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight; sometimes the feathers can look a bit dirty brown (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Herdsman Lake, Perth, WA, January 2015]

Lateral view of an Great Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight, with its neck kinked in the way typical of herons and egrets, now with the wings in the "up" phase
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]

Lateral view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight, looking a bit like a ballerina...
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2013]

Lateral view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight, exhibiting very clearly the distinctive kink of its long neck
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2013]

Near-lateral view of a Great Egret in flight
[Near Moree, NSW, June 2013]

Lateral view of a Great Egret in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2011]

Dorsal view of a Great Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2013]

Great Egret in flight, with its head down by its dangling feet...
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2012]

A whole array of aquatic birds hunting/foraging in O'Brien's Creek at Narrabri, NSW: three White-necked Herons, two Australian White Ibis in breeding plumage, two Great Egrets, one Purple Swamphen, one Dusky Moorhen and two Pacific Black Ducks
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2011]

Here a Great Egret in flight (front left), together with an Intermediate Egret in the background; the main distinction between the two is in the lores, which extend to behind the eye for the Great Egret, but not for the Intermediate Egret
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2010]

Race "alba"

Photos of race "alba" were obtained in Oman.

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - May

Eggs: 2 - 5

Incubation period: 25 - 26 days

Fledging age: 60 days

The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Great Egrets breed Mar - May, which is late in the wet season. Given the right conditions Great Egrets can breed any time of the year. They breed in colonies, together with other aquatic birds. Their nests are usually the ones at the very tops of trees, with other species nesting lower.

Great Egret in breeding plumage and nuptial flush (left), together with a Cattle Egret (centre) and an Intermediate Egret (right); all of them are searching for nesting material under a tree after a violent storm
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Sticks

Height above ground: 10 - 30 m

Great Egrets have been found by us nesting, together with other aquatic birds, along the shores of Narrabri Lake, NSW, during the breeding season of 2008 and in subsequent years, when the lake was not dry.

Great Egret in breeding plumage providing shade for its two chicks
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2022]

Great Egret in breeding plumage near its nest with at least one chick
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2022]

Great Egret in non-breeding plumage on its nest with two chicks
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2022]

Near-frontal view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage and nuptial flush standing on its nest
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]

Lateral view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage on its nest, possibly turning the eggs
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2022]

Great Egret in non-breeding plumage near its nest, which was at a height of only 2 m in a live eucalypt standing in water
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, April 2022]

Near-fledging age Great Egret chick in its nest, which was at a height of only 2 m in a live eucalypt standing in water
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, April 2022]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 52 x 36 mm

Colour: Light blue

Shape: Tapered oval

Great Egret turning the eggs in its nest (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2021]

Great Egrets nesting in a colony; the one near the centre is turning the eggs in its nest (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2021]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair/flock

At the end of the breeding season, in the period of dispersal, Great Egret can sometimes be seen travelling in small groups (photo courtesy of K. White)
[St Georges Basin, NSW, April 2016]

Additional information

Click here to see a male Great Egret's display to woo a female.

Although there is no chance of not being seen, this Great Egret seems to be using the "cryptic" posture, which is normally used by birds with camouflage colours ("cryptic plumage"), e.g. to resemble a dead branch
[Near Narrabri, NSW, April 2014]

Another Great Egret using the "cryptic" posture (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, May 2018]

While some bird species prefer perches always at roughly the same height, Great Egrets show flexibility. Note that they do not hunt from these positions; hunting is done by stalking prey in shallow water, as shown below.

Great Egret on its lookout high up in a dead tree
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, July 2010]

Sometimes Great Egrets can be found in small trees overlooking watercourses
[O'Brien's Creek, Narrabri Lake, NSW, May 2012]

Great Egret emerging from a temporarily flooded roadside ditch
[Near Moree, NSW, June 2013]

Great Egret on a low perch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, May 2018]

Great Egret low on reeds, just above the waterline
[O'Brien's Creek, Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2012]

Great Egrets usually have a preference for fresh or brackish water, but they can also be found hunting in saltwater.

Dorsal view of a Great Egret hunting in the surf of the Arafura Sea
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Great Egret hunting flying along the coastline of the Arafura Sea
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Food, Diet

All egrets and herons prey on aquatic creatures in fresh water or estuaries (fish, frogs, snakes or crustaceans). Great Egrets will take any of these.

Great Egret in non-breeding plumage poised to strike its prey (which it caught and then carried away)
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, March 2023]

Great Egret in non-breeding plumage with its prey, a big fish that it has speared (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, August 2022]

Great Egret in breeding plumage with its prey, a fish (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, October 2019]

Great Egret in breeding plumage trying to turn its prey, a fish (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, October 2019]

This way it goes in... (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, October 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage with its prey
[Hunter Wetlands NP, Newcastle, NSW, December 2016]

Great Egret with its prey - albeit a bit ambitious
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

Sometimes you've got to be content with smaller prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cairns, QLD, July 2018]

Great Egret hunting at the foot of a cascade...
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

We will try to replace this poor recording with a better one as soon as possible.

gregret_20220509.m4a	(NW NSW)	Suspicious/foraging at break of dawn	© MD
gregret_20190722.m4a	(NW NSW)	Alarm call (human)	© MD
gregret_20170626.m4a	(NW NSW)	? (arrival)	© MD
gregret_20210302.m4a	(NW NSW)	? (in breeding colony)	© MD
gregret_20230222.mp3	(NW NSW)	? (in-flight; + Little Corella)	© MD

More Great (White) Egret sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Mon, 4 December 2023, 8:04 +00:00