Egretta rufescens
The Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) is a medium-sized wading bird characterized by its striking appearance and distinctive foraging behavior. Reaching lengths of 68-82 cm (27-32 in) with a wingspan of 117-124 cm (46-49 in) and weighing 364-870 g (12.8-30.7 oz), it displays two primary color morphs: a dark morph with a slate-blue body and a reddish-brown head and neck, and a less common white morph, identifiable by its shaggy plumage and distinctive bicolored bill. Key field marks include it...
Primarily inhabits coastal saltwater environments such as estuaries, tidal flats, lagoons, and salt marshes, preferring shallow water. Typically found at low elevations near sea level.
Feeds almost exclusively on small fish, along with crustaceans like shrimp and crabs, caught primarily by active pursuit and ambush in shallow water.
Reddish Egrets are diurnal, foraging actively throughout the day, often roosting communally with other wading birds in mangrove islands or isolated trees at night. Their most remarkable behavior is their 'dancing' foraging strategy, where they run, jump, and spread their wings to create shade or ...
The Reddish Egret is primarily a resident of the Gulf Coast of the United States, including Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, extending southward through the Caribbean islands, Mexico, and Central America. Its breeding range largely overlaps with its year-round distribution, with some northern popul...
Near Threatened
- The Reddish Egret is one of only two egret species in North America that comes in both a dark and a white morph, with the dark morph being far more common. - Its scientific name, 'Egretta rufescens,' literally means 'reddish egret,' referring to the distinctive rufous plumage of its head and ne...