Great egrets and snowy egrets are two similar-looking species of white herons that can often be confused with each other. While they share some physical similarities and overlapping ranges, they are actually two distinct species with some key differences.
Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about great egrets and snowy egrets:
- Great egrets and snowy egrets are not the same species – they are closely related but distinct species.
- The most noticeable difference is size – great egrets are larger.
- Great egrets have longer legs, necks, and bills than snowy egrets.
- Snowy egrets have bright yellow feet while great egrets have blackish feet.
- Snowy egrets have a patch of skin between their bill and eye that is yellow, green or grey. Great egrets lack this patch.
- Snowy egrets breed in colonies, great egrets are often solitary nesters.
- Both species have plumes used for breeding displays but are more pronounced on snowy egrets.
- Their geographic breeding ranges overlap but snowy egrets range farther north.
- Both species were hunted extensively in the 19th century for their plumes.
Size and Physical Differences
The most noticeable difference between great egrets and snowy egrets is their size. Great egrets are significantly larger with a standing height around 3 feet 6 inches compared to 2 feet for snowy egrets.
Some key physical differences include:
Trait | Great Egret | Snowy Egret |
---|---|---|
Height | 3.5 feet | 2 feet |
Wingspan | 5 feet | 3 feet |
Bill Length | 6-8 inches | 3-4 inches |
Legs | Blackish | Bright yellow |
Facial Skin Patch | None | Yellow, green or grey |
As the table illustrates, great egrets are noticeably larger than snowy egrets in overall height and wingspan. They also have noticeably longer legs, bills, and necks. Their legs are blackish while snowy egrets have bright yellow legs. Snowy egrets also have a patch of yellow, green or grey skin between their bill and eyes that great egrets lack.
Plumage and Breeding Differences
Both great egrets and snowy egrets develop long plumes on their heads, necks, backs and chests during the breeding season. These plumes were the reason they were both heavily hunted in the 19th century to supply demand for feathered hats and other decorations.
Snowy egrets tend to develop more robust plumes, especially on the back and chest. Their breeding plumes are more pronounced and noticeable than on great egrets. This likely led early ornithologists to think they were separate species.
Great egrets and snowy egrets also differ in their nesting behaviors. Snowy egrets are colonial nesters that breed in large aggregations. They build nests in close proximity to each other, sometimes with hundreds of pairs in a single colony. Great egrets are often solitary nesters, spreading out from each other even when in the same general area.
Range and Habitat
Great egrets and snowy egrets occupy overlapping ranges across much of North America. Their breeding ranges center on the Gulf Coast and southeastern states but extend along the Atlantic coast and inland to some western states.
Here are some key differences in their range:
- Snowy egrets breed farther north into the Great Lakes region, New England, and southern Canada.
- Great egrets are rare farther north along the Atlantic coast.
- Snowy egrets winter primarily along the Gulf Coast and south Florida while great egrets winter farther south into the Caribbean and Central America.
Both species frequent shallow wetlands like marshes, ponds, tidal flats, and shorelines. Snowy egrets use a wider diversity of wetland habitats while great egrets are more often found along quieter, more open waters.
Behavioral Differences
Both species forage in shallow water by walking slowly and carefully stalking prey. Their diets consist mainly of small fish, amphibians, crustaceans and insects.
Some behavioral differences include:
- Great egrets often stand motionless waiting to ambush prey while snowy egrets are more active foragers.
- Snowy egrets have a wider variety of specialized feeding behaviors like stirring up sediment with their feet.
- Snowy egrets are more social and forage in groups more often.
Overall great egrets are considered a bit less active in their foraging strategies compared to the more energetic snowy egrets. But both employ a variety of hunting techniques suited to capturing small aquatic prey.
Conservation Status
Both species experienced devastating population declines in the late 19th century due to hunting for their plumes. It’s estimated that several million birds of each species were harvested for the feather trade. Conservation efforts began around the turn of the 20th century after the passage of early bird protection laws.
Here is a comparison of their current conservation status:
Species | IUCN Red List Status | Population Trend |
---|---|---|
Great Egret | Least Concern | Increasing |
Snowy Egret | Least Concern | Stable |
Both species have recovered well after earlier population declines. Snowy egrets may be more vulnerable to habitat loss in coastal areas which could lead to future population declines. But for now, their populations appear stable and sustainable.
Key Identification Tips
Here are some key traits to help identify great egrets and snowy egrets:
- Great Egrets – Much larger, thicker neck, longer legs and bill, blackish feet, lacks facial skin patch
- Snowy Egrets – Smaller, bright yellow feet, facial skin patch, more robust breeding plumes, active foraging style
Paying attention to size, bill length, leg color, and facial markings are the best ways to tell them apart. Getting a good view of the feet and facial patch are often the best clues in the field. And being aware of the subtler differences in plumage and typical behavior will help cement the identification.
Conclusion
While great egrets and snowy egrets may look similar at first glance, they are distinct species with key physical and behavioral differences. Their size, proportions, plumage details, nesting behaviors, ranges, foraging ecologies, and conservation status show they have followed separate evolutionary paths. Being able to distinguish between these two elegant white herons takes a careful eye but gets easier with experience observing both species in the field over time.