Water for the environment: wetlands

	Wetlands Facts about Wetlands Wetland Plants and Animals Birds   Search:  [ HOME ] [ CONTACT ]		The Birds of NSW Wetlands - Egrets Order - Ciconiiformes Cattle Egret Great Egret Intermediate Egret - Also known as the Plumed Egret Little Egret Eastern Reef Egret References and Further Reading Cattle Egret Ardeola ibis General Characteristics: White plumage. When breeding it has an orange crown, face, upper back and breast. Red feet. Roost and nest in colonies, often with tens to thousands of other birds. Diet: Mainly insects, sometimes small aquatic animals. Habitat: Feed around the feet of slow moving cattle. Often perch on cattle eating insects and parasites off their backs. Distribution in NSW: Primarily found on the NSW coast. [ TOP ] Great Egret Ardea alba General Characteristics: The largest and most common Egret in NSW. White plumage. Bill yellow. Very long neck. A solitary and territorial feeder. Hunts in shallow water. Breed in colonies often mixed with spoonbills, herons, ibises and cormorants. Diet: Mainly fish, but also insects, crustaceans, amphibians. Habitat: Found in inland and coastal swamps, large rivers and lakes. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Intermediate Egret - also known as the Plumed Egret Ardea intermedia General Characteristics: Plumage white. It has characteristic lacy plumes on breast and back. Bill and legs are red. Feet are black. Face green to yellow. Nests in trees. Breed in colonies often mixed with spoonbills, herons, ibises and cormorants. Diet: Primarily small fish, but also amphibians, insects and crustaceans. Habitat: Found in freshwater lakes and rivers, both inland and on the coast. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Little Egret Egretta garzetta General Characteristics: Have a distinctive slender, black bill. Plumage white, with white nuptial head plumes. Legs and feet are black. Nests in trees, shrubs or in reed beds. Breed in colonies often mixed with spoonbills, herons, ibises and cormorants. Diet: Small fish, invertebrates and amphibians. Habitat: Coastal and inland mudflats. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Eastern Reef Egret Ardea sacra General Characteristics: Can be entirely white or entirely grey. The white form is more common than the grey. Nests in trees, shrubs or on the ground. Diet: Feeds mostly on small fish, but also on crustaceans and insects. Habitat: Can be found exclusively on the coast. Distribution in NSW: Found on the east coast only. [ TOP ] References and Further Reading Fullagar, P. J. and Davey, C. C. 1983. Herons, Egrets, Ibises and Spoonbills. Order: Ciconiiformes. In "Wetlands in New South Wales". (Ed C. Haigh). National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW. Pratt, E. (1979) ‘The growth of a cattle egret colony’, Notornis, 26, pp 353-356. Readers Digest. 1988. Readers Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds. Reader’s Digest, Sydney.
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