Snowy Egret Images, Facts and Information:
Egretta thula
- Snowy Egrets are medium sized wading birds with white plumage, long thin necks, legs and bills and yellow lores and feet. During the breeding season their lores change color to hues between salmon and orange-red.
- Snowy Egrets were hunted to near extinction in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s for their plumes that were used as decorations on ladies hats. Their plumes at that time sold for nearly twice the amount that gold sold for. Laws were passed to protect them and they have recovered.
- In some locations Snowy Egrets are year round residents while in others they migrate.
- Snowy Egrets are found primarily along the coast but they can also be found in inland wetland habitat. Their habitat includes beaches, fresh and saltwater marshes, mudflats, wet agricultural fields, the banks of rivers and lake shorelines.
- Snowy Egrets eat small crustaceans, fish, insects, small reptiles and amphibians.
- They are colonial nesters. Snowy Egrets lay 2 to 6 eggs which take about 18 days to hatch. Both sexes incubate.
- Snowy Egrets have been known to mate with other herons including Tricolored Herons, Little Blue Herons and Cattle Egrets and produced hybrid offspring.
- Snowy Egrets are also known as “Golden Slippers” because of their yellow feet.
- A group of egrets can be called a “heronry”, “skewer” and “wedge” of egrets.
- Snowy Egrets can live up to 22 years.
I hope you enjoy viewing my Snowy Egret photos.
Adult Snowy Egret in flight over Bear River MBR
Title: Adult Snowy Egret in flight over Bear River MBR
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/7/2016
Snowy Egret about to strike prey
Title: Snowy Egret about to strike prey
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 7/25/2016
Portrait of a Snowy Egret
Title: Portrait of a Snowy Egret
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/23/2015
Close up of a hunting Snowy Egret
Title: Close up of a hunting Snowy Egret
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/23/2015
Snowy Egret portrait on a September morning
Title: Snowy Egret portrait on a September morning
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/23/2015
Morning light and a Snowy Egret close up
Title: Morning light and a Snowy Egret close up
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/23/2015
Snowy Egret portrait at Farmington Bay
Title: Snowy Egret portrait at Farmington Bay
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/23/2015
Snowy Egret close up
Title: Snowy Egret close up
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/23/2015
Snowy Egret chasing after another snowy in a territorial dispute
Title: Snowy Egret chasing after another snowy in a territorial dispute
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/23/2015
Snowy Egret landing at Farmington Bay
Title: Snowy Egret landing at Farmington Bay
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/23/2015
Snowy Egret with rope around its leg
Title: Snowy Egret with rope around its leg
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/23/2015
Snowy Egret scratching its neck
Title: Snowy Egret scratching its neck
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/13/2015
Resting Snowy Egret with its crest plumes raised
Title: Resting Snowy Egret with its crest plumes raised
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/13/2015
Snowy Egret about to land
Title: Snowy Egret about to land
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/13/2015
Snowy Egret rousing after a preening session
Title: Snowy Egret rousing after a preening session
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/13/2015
Snowy Egret about to scratch
Title: Snowy Egret about to scratch
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/13/2015
Snowy Egret scratching
Title: Snowy Egret scratching
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/13/2015
Really big stretch from a Snowy Egret
Title: Really big stretch from a Snowy Egret
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/13/2015
Snowy Egret preening on a perch in the Bear River
Title: Snowy Egret preening on a perch in the Bear River
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/13/2015
Pair of Snowy Egrets at Bear River MBR
Title: Pair of Snowy Egrets at Bear River MBR
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/13/2015