Snowy Egret: Identification and hunting behaviors to look for!

Snowy Egrets are arriving now to their breeding ranges. Snowy Egrets can be identified by their snow white feathers, the body of a heron, a black beak and black legs with organge or yellow feet. If you see an Egret wearing orange slippers you can be sure it is a Snowy Egret. Snowy egrets also have plumes on the back of their heads, the name of the neck and on their tails. Snowy Egrets may at first be confused with Great White Egrets. Great White Egrets have a larger, have all black legs and an orange beak. Their feet are also all black in contrast to the Snowy Egret. Great White Egrets are primarily ambush hunters while Snowy Egrets may be more animated some times flapping their wings and running across the water to catch a fish. Snowy egrets will often stir the bottom with two feet or just one. They will also play the ambush game then strike in the blink of an eye. Once hunted to near extinction, snowy egrets are now protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. But like other shore birds, they are still at risk due to habitat degredation and loss of wetlands. You can act to help protect wetlands by joining the American Littoral Society. My channel is dedicated to teaching about nature and biology. Environmental Education is key to conservation of our natural areas. My videos serve to teach and engage people of all ages in outdoor learning.
To learn more about the American Littoral Society please click here:
www.littoralsociety.org/
The American Littoral Society promotes the study and conservation of marine life and habitat, protects the coast from harm, and empowers others to do the same.
Since 1961 we have empowered people to care for the coast through advocacy, conservation, and education. We not only provide a voice for the coast, but also give concerned citizens the knowledge and tools they need to raise their voices with us. When we restore habitat, our objective is not only to restore a dune or rebuild an oyster reef, but also to motivate people to invest “sweat equity” into a piece of the coast, take ownership and become committed stewards. When we educate, we don’t merely provide books, CDs, or handouts. We lead students young and old into the water to get their feet wet and their hands muddy. Sitting at a computer or reading a book, people may develop an interest in the coast; standing knee deep in sea foam with sand between their toes, they will develop a passion for the coast.

[@judyfinnegan6225]

Dear Frank , thanks for sharing your childhood memory ! Love it!!! Pretty scenery & a very SPECIAL bird! Take care now & be safe! 🙂

[@natureatyourdoor]

I was hoping you would like this one Judy. I recently purchased this sony rx10 with a 600 mm zoom to do more bird videos. This is my first with new camera!

[@judyfinnegan6225]

@@natureatyourdoor congratulations on your NEW CAMERA! 🌝

[@leespencer1042]

Hi. Really enjoyed your Snowy Egret video from Sandy Hook, NJ. We have become acquainted with the Snowy Egret and the Great white Egret in Venice Rookery and Fort De Soto County Park in FL. It is amazing to watch them, to see their beauty, behavior and their range...all the beautiful places to see them!😊

[@natureatyourdoor]

Sounds like a great place. I need to get down to Florida to visit.

[@brianquilty687]

17 years ago my wife and I drove to visit the Great Lakes. We ended up on the Canadian side of Lake Erie. While there, we went to Peele Island which is a bird hot spot during migration. We were amazed at how many " Birder's " with huge camera lenses we saw there. That was where I saw my first Great White Egret. Many years later we saw Great White Egret in southern Texas in October on their migration heading south.

[@natureatyourdoor]

They are MAGNIFICENT birds arent they Brian! I never tire of observing them!

[@benmoffitt7524]

They are beautiful birds and stealthy too! Thanks for sharing this!

[@natureatyourdoor]

HI Ben, you are wecome! Stealthy is a great word to describe their behavior!

[@Wondering_About_Nature]

Looking forward to their return any day now! I always thought their feet look like those school bus yellow boots I wore as a child. My favorite Egret is the Cattle Egret. I see them once in awhile but not as much as the Snowy Egret. Such a fun bird to watch.

[@natureatyourdoor]

School bus yellow boots!!🙂👍

[@lauradickson9758]

Thanks so much for this great info. We were fortunate enough to see a great white egret hunting recently on our trip to Jekyll Island, Ga. Your info helped me to go back and identify him in the pics I had from the trip.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thats awesome! I have been down to Tybee Island...i need to go to Jekyll Island next!

[@carmennunnally9847]

They are so pretty. I love the top of their heads and I hope they don't get extinct.

[@natureatyourdoor]

They are doing pretty well right now. Carmen. We just need to preserve their coastal habitats!

[@ginafriend1690]

Hi Frank 😊 Such high and wide steppers! Great info and camerawork capturing! Pretty birds. I'm big on watching my songbirds and hummingbirds in my own backyard. It's so comforting and beautiful 😍

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi Gina! Ha, yes MEGAFAUNA! I am enjoying a myriad of birds at our backystd feeder too! Gold finches, 3 different wood peckers...tufted titmice and more!

[@jasonwolfe9892]

I have a huge wetland area near me called the Alabama Swamps in WNY. Lots of migratory birds will stop there. I’ve scene snowy egrets there along with many others. Eastern Bitterns are also fun to watch.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi Jason! Thanks for share! Sound like a place I need to visit!

[@sfisher5070]

Love these birds! Thanks for sharing, Frank! We will be looking for the snowy egret when we go to Ocean Isle in June!

[@natureatyourdoor]

You are welcome! They are anazing! Take photos and share! 😊

[@user-iw1fs4wm5d]

Sangheili turian be jealous. Just walking around down here with awesome feathers.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Right? 🙂

[@joannens6011]

Thanks for making all this content! Lovely video!

[@natureatyourdoor]

You are welcome Joanne!

[@martinbunning1682]

Tyvm

[@natureatyourdoor]

You are welcome!,

[@NatureAndOther]

Great capture and very nice New Yirk skyline too. There is the same or look alike bird In UK called Little Egret....not sure if they are same. The big white Egret looks and acts like the blue/grey heron.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes....they are fun to watch too...they will lean so far!!! Ospreys and american oyster catcher episodes to come...i have a backlog of 15 episodes of flora and fauna making spring appearances!

[@Lammero]

Little egrets grow seasonal pigtails, that's the major difference I think

[@NatureAndOther]

@@Lammero thanks

[@technodrone313]

egrets are ballers

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! 🙂