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SPECIES PROFILE
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Ardea
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent Europe Africa
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Wetlands marshes estuaries
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Ciconiiformes
FAMILY
Ardeidae
GENUS
Ardea
📋 Description
SIZE
90-100 cm long 700-1500 g
COLORATION
White with black legs yellow bill
ADAPTATIONS
Long neck and legs for deep water wading
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Wetlands marshes estuaries
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent Europe Africa
REPRODUCTION
Lays 3-5 eggs in tree or reed nests incubated 23-26 days
DIET DETAILS
Fish crustaceans insects
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Wetland drainage pollution
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Graceful Waders: Great Egrets stalk with 1 kg bodies eating 200 grams of fish daily in Bharatpur's wetlands. Their white plumage is striking.
2
Colonial Nesters: These egrets cover 4000 sq km in Odisha's marshes nesting in trees. Pollution threatens their feeding grounds.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan
Chilika Lake in Odisha
Sundarbans National Park in West Bengal
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
October-March Dry season concentrates prey for spotting egrets
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Watch great egrets wading in shallow wetlands
