Snowy egret in exhibit
Scientific Name
Egretta thula
Geographic Range
North and South America
Diet
Fish, frogs, worms, crustaceans, and insects
Snowy egret in exhibit Endangered Status Graph - Least Concern Endangered Status Graph - Least Concern

More Information

Snowy egrets are herons with all-white feathers, long black legs, and yellow feet. They also have a long, thin neck which is not always apparent by the way they sit. They are distinguished by a crest of long, white features that fall from the top of their head. These birds live in wetland habitats.

These birds breed in mixed-species colonies. Males begin constructing nests even before they find a mate, and their courtship may involve aerial displays. Once paired, females take over nest construction. After laying up to six eggs, incubation takes around 22 days. Both parents care for the hatchlings and young leave the nest after 20–25 days. They fly about a week later.

Did You Know?

  • Snowy egrets use their feet to paddle and probe for prey. Once a live food item is found, they will strike it with their bill.
  • These birds are very sensitive to environmental changes that reduce prey availability because they spend more time feeding than other herons.
  • Their populations dropped significantly in the 19th century due to hunting. However, the population has rebounded due to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which restricted hunting.
Animal Care staff working with seal

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.

Learn More

Support Your Zoo

Two Chilean flamingos in exhibit

Animals Depend On People Too

When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.

Adopt an Animal

Asian small-clawed otter in exhibit

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.

Browse the Wish List

African penguin eating a fish

Take Action With Us

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.

Take Action

00:00
00:00
Empty Playlist