Bird Gallery Index
Reddish Egret image © Joseph Kennedy.
Family: (Ardeidae) Herons, Egrets and Bitterns
Preferred Habitat: Saltwater marshes.
Seasonal Occurrence: Common spring through fall. Uncommon in winter. Breeds in our area.
Notes: The Reddish Egret is known for its distinctive feeding behavior. Some liken it to a dance as it dashes about and fans its wings. The Reddish Egret occurs in two color morphs: dark (reddish-brown color) and a much more scarce white morph. In breeding plumage the base of the bill becomes pink, and the legs bright blue. Reddish Egrets are most likely to be found in coastal saltwater marshes, such as Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary. They are colonial nesters and nest on North Deer Island.
- Susan Billetdeaux
