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Adaptations of the Snowy Egret

Standing about 2 feet tall, with a 3-foot wingspan and bright white plumage, the snowy egret is a striking little shore bird. Its long black legs end in bright yellow feet, making it easy for birdwatchers to identify it. The egret has a sharp, narrow black bill, which it uses to hunt its prey, and a patch of yellow skin around the base of the beak. The snowy egret eats insects, fish, small frogs and reptiles, and can be found all along the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America during breeding season. The bird winters southward of California and Virginia, ranging all the way down to South America and the West Indies.

Hunting
- The snowy egret picks about with one foot in the water in what may resemble a dance. The movement of the egret's bright yellow foot lures unsuspecting fish, which confuse the egret's toes for food. The toes also stir up the mud, which can frighten frogs, lizards, small fish and other prey out of hiding. Other times, the egret may stand still with its wings spread to provide shade. When prey animals seek out shade to hide, the snowy egret strikes quickly with its sharp bill.
Mating Habits
- Male snowy egrets pick a mating site and begin to build their nests in coastal areas, using physical displays to impress females. Male and female egrets point their bills to the sky and stretch their necks upward, wings outstretched as part of their lengthy and complicated courtship display. Pairs of males and females perform this facing one another. Once the female has accepted a mate, the mated pair then cooperate to complete a nest in the shrubs, using sticks found nearby, before the female lays her eggs. Egrets strongly prefer building nests in large colonies with a variety of other shore birds, including fellow snowy egrets.
Chicks
- Male and female egrets both participate in caring for their young, fending off predators and providing food. The female lays anywhere from three to six eggs, with three being more common. Once the eggs have hatched, the chicks stay in the nest for around 20 days before they leave to start attempting flight. Females allow more chicks to hatch than they plan to raise, and the stronger chicks gang up on and kill the weakest chick, ensuring that only the strongest survive from an early age. Some years, depending on available food, the parents may choose to rear the youngest chick as well.
Habitat
- Quick, carnivorous birds, snowy egrets adapted to live in coastal wetlands, preferring sheltered areas, whether marine, freshwater or estuary. Snowy egrets are found in swamps, mangroves, marshes and along beaches and shorelines. The snowy egret's long legs allow it to run quickly after prey, as well as to stand patiently in shallow water without getting its feathers wet. Male and female egrets both have bright white feathers, which provide very little camouflage.

Animals & Science