Egret (Snowy)

The Snowy is distinguished from the Great egret by its smaller size, its black bill, and yellow feet. The Snowy Egret can be spotted on the edge of water and marshes. Their main foods are fish, crabs, amphibians, and insects.

In the late 19th early twentieth century, Snowy Egret plumes were popular on hats. The result was that these birds were hunted until they were nearly extinct.

Snowy Egrets breed once a year and females lay 3 to 5 greenish blue eggs that hatch in 3 to 4 weeks. Their platform-like nests are built primarily of twigs and are located in trees about seven feet above the ground.

photographed in the wild in Cape Coral and Naples, FL