Egret Identification

Egrets seem to have the most zen-like ability to become one with their surroundings, whereas the smaller birds often run about on their quick little legs in search of food. The one indelicate thing about egrets are their calls. Talk about dinosaurs! The incredibly loud, groaning, croaking squawks of these birds are rather unforgettable and always make us laugh because they seem so incongruous with the refined appearance of the fowl.

If the bird you see has a yellow beak, it’s a Great Egret. If the beak is black, it’s a Snowy Egret. Simple as that. Greats have black feet, and Snowies have yellow feet. Both birds have black legs, so look at the feet. I’ll note here that should you see a Snowy Egret with yellow legs, it’s a young bird. So, paying close attention to beaks and feet can make you a pro when it comes to identifying egrets. The more experienced you become at birding, the more rules of thumb such as these you are likely to have stored in your mental index file.