Ardea intermedia
The Intermediate Egret, also widely known as the Plumed Egret or Yellow-billed Egret, is a striking medium-sized wading bird distinguished by its pristine white plumage and elegant, elongated form. Typically measuring 56-72 cm (22-28 in) in length with a wingspan of 105-115 cm (41-45 in) and weighing 400-500g, it stands as an intermediate in size between the larger Great Egret and smaller species like the Little Egret or Cattle Egret. Its most distinctive field marks include a relatively shor...
Primarily inhabits freshwater wetlands, including marshes, rice paddies, flooded grasslands, and the shallow shores of lakes and rivers. It is generally found in lowland areas, rarely venturing above 1500 meters.
Feeds primarily on small fish, frogs, and a wide array of insects such as locusts, grasshoppers, and dragonflies. It predominantly forages by visually locating and striking prey in shallow water or on moist ground.
Intermediate Egrets are diurnal foragers, often active from dawn till dusk, and typically roost communally in trees or dense vegetation, frequently alongside other heron and egret species. They employ a variety of foraging strategies, including slow stalking in shallow water, often using a 'foot-...
The Intermediate Egret boasts an exceptionally wide geographic distribution across tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australasia. In Africa, the subspecies *Ardea intermedia brachyrhyncha* is widespread south of the Sahara Desert, ranging from Senegal east to Sudan and south t...
Least Concern
- The Intermediate Egret earns its name because it's precisely intermediate in size between the Great Egret and the smaller Cattle Egret or Little Egret. - Its common names, Plumed Egret and Yellow-billed Egret, reflect its magnificent breeding plumes and its distinctive non-breeding bill color. ...