Snowy White Egret Breeding Plumage

by Jennie Breeze

Title

Snowy White Egret Breeding Plumage

Artist

Jennie Breeze

Medium

Photograph - Original Img_1128

Description

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) in full breeding plumage. The striking color of the lores does not last long, and seems to occur at the very peak of the mating hormonal surge. This slender, medium-sized heron has white plumage, a slim black bill, long black legs, and vivid yellow feet. . It stands about two feet tall, weighs 13 ounces, and has a three-foot wingspan. Males are slightly larger than females. It has white feathers, a yellow patch of skin around its eyes, a black bill and black legs with bright yellow feet.Males and females look alike. During the breeding season, adults are adorned with long, delicate lacy plumes on their heads, necks, and backs; their yellow feet and lores (the bare skin between the eyes and bill) become redder. Their breeding habitat is large inland and coastal wetlands from the lower Great Lakes and southwestern United States to South America. They nest in colonies, often with other waders, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. Their flat, shallow nests are made of sticks and lined with fine twigs and rushes. Three to four greenish-blue, oval eggs are incubated by both adults. The young leave the nest in 20 to 25 days and hop about on branches near the nest before finally departing.

Uploaded

July 7th, 2013

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