(Casmeroius albus)
37 - 41 inches

photograph © Walker Golder

Status: No special status in North Carolina.

Identification: Great Egrets are the largest of the white, long-legged wading birds found in North Carolina. The legs and feet are black and the bill is yellow. The lores are yellow, but turn bright green during courtship.

Nesting Habitat: Great Egrets nest on estuarine and barrier islands and in swamp forests, usually in association with other wading birds. They usually build nests in the upper canopy of trees or shrubs, but may also choose sites in low shrubs and grasses.

Breeding Biology: Adults begin to gather at colony sites and initiate nesting activities in early March. This can continue through May. Great Egrets construct large platform nests of interwoven plant stems and twigs. Nests can measure up to three feet in diameter. The female lays three to four pale blue eggs. Both parents participate in incubation which lasts 23 to 24 days. Nestlings begin to fly at about six weeks of age. Great Egrets occupy North Carolina colony sites from early March to mid-August.

Food: Food for this species is diverse, but consists primarily of small fish. Great Egrets also feed on crustaceans, reptiles, amphibians, insects, small mammals and birds.

State Nesting Population: Stable, approximately 1,800 nesting pairs along the coast. Inland nesting population unknown.

Major Threats: Human disturbances at nesting sites, loss of nesting habitat and degradation of wetland foraging habitats.

Waterbirds:
Next
Previous
Index Page

Pages created and managed by Modular Graphic Services, Wilmington, N.C.
Last Revision 5/21/98