Snowy Egret
Scientific Name
Class
Order
Range
Habitat
Estimated Wild Population
More Information
Physical Description
Snowy egrets were named for their all-white plumage, although their black legs and yellow feet are also distinguishable. These herons have orangish-yellow eyes connected by a similarly colored band of feathers that stretches overtop their black beak. Upon maturity, adult birds develop long, fine plumes of feathers along their chest, back, and neck. Snowy egrets prey on a wide variety of creatures both in and out of the water. Females build nests from sticks and twigs, and both parents contribute to the incubation and rearing of young.
Interesting Fact 1
Snowy egrets have large bills that can grasp prey, including earthworms, insects, fish, snakes, and lizards.
Interesting Fact 2
Males attract mates by performing vocalizations and courtship displays that include bobbing motions delivered with their bill stretched toward the sky.
Interesting Fact 3
Although their population dropped significantly in the 19th century due to hunting, the population has rebounded thanks to various hunting restrictions, such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
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Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
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Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
