A bird that is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season.
Status: State threatened. Identification: The snowy egret is a medium-sized, white heron with a slender, black bill, black legs and yellow feet. The area of the upper bill, in front of the eyes, is yellow but turns red during the breeding season. Showy, recurved plumes are present on the back during the breeding season.  The great egret (Ardea alba), also known as the common egret, large egret or (in the Old World) great white heron, is a large, widely distributed egret. Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, in southern Europe it is rather localized. Description [edit]. The great egret is a large heron with all-white plumage. Standing up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, this species can measure 80 to 104 cm (31 to 41 in) in length and have a wingspan of 131 to 170 cm (52 to 67 in). The Old World population is often referred to as the great white egret. This species is sometimes confused with the great white heron of the Caribbean, which is a white morph of the closely related great blue heron (A. herodias). Description [edit]. The great egret is a large heron with all-white plumage. Standing up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, this species can measure 80 to 104 cm (31 to 41 in) in length and have a wingspan of 131 to 170 cm (52 to 67 in). Similar to: Slaty Egret. Slaty Egret has yellow legs; Black Egret has mostly black legs. Black Egret is more widespread. The Little Blue Heron has bluish-gray plumage; blue or grayish bill with black tip; blusish legs, feet. Juveniles have mainly white plumage; dark wing-tips; dull greenish legs. Great Egret can be distinguished by its yellow bill and black feet. Similar to: Little Blue Heron juvenile. Juvenile Snowy Egret and juvenile Little Blue Heron are very similar. The upper part of the bill of juvenile Snowy Egret is yellowish; juvenile Little Blue Heron upper part of bill is bluish. Identification: The great egret is a large member of the heron family, with long legs, white plumage, and a slender body. Adults have black legs and feet. During the breeding season, the normally yellow bill may appear orange and long feather plumes (aigrettes) extend from the back to beyond the tail.  It is typically the largest white egret occurring anywhere in its range (only the white-colored form of the great blue heron is larger). Great egrets are found near water, salt or fresh, and feed in wetlands, streams, ponds, tidal flats, and other areas. Both great white egret parents raise their young, although sibling rivalry in the nest can result in death for some chicks. egret. n. 1. (Animals) any of various wading birds of the genera Egretta, Hydranassa, etc, that are similar to herons but usually have a white plumage and, in the breeding season, long feathery plumes: family Ardeidae, order Ciconiiformes. American egret, Egretta albus, great white heron-a common egret of the genus Egretta found in America; it is a variety of the Old World white egret Casmerodius albus. Bubulcus ibis, cattle egret-small white egret widely distributed in warm regions often found around grazing animals. For the EGRET satellite mission, see Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope. An egret /ˈiːɡrət/ is a bird that is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season. The distinction between a heron and an egret is rather vague, and depends more on appearance than biology. The word egret comes from the French word aigrette that means both silver heron and brush, referring to the long filamentous feathers that seem to cascade down an egret's back Click on the images for a larger view. The great egret is a little over three feet tall with a wingspan of almost five feet. Its feathers are entirely white. It has a long, sharp yellow bill and long gray to black legs, with non-webbed feet with very long toes. When the great egret is in breeding plumage, it has long lacy and delicate plumes on its back that curl over its tail. Males and females look alike, but the males are a little larger.
http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?q=326088 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_egret https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_egret http://carolinabirds.org/HTML/WLD_Wader_Egret.htm http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?A=2723&Q=326010 http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/great-egret/ http://www.thefreedictionary.com/egret https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egret http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/greategret.htm
what is an egret