Snowy Egret

The Snowy Egret is the smallest type of egret. It has a small white body with a slender black bill, black legs, and golden feet. This bird has a harsh squawk.

In the breeding season, the Snowy Egret grows long, lacy feathers on its back. It breeds in the United Sates, but rarely as far north as New Jersey. It lays three to four pale blue eggs on a platform of sticks in a bush, or on a reed bed. The young egret is born with feathers and has a yellow strip on the back of its legs.

The Snowy Egret ranges from northern California, Oklahoma and Maine to southern South America. In the winter it is regularly seen in California and South Carolina. In the summer, it wanders north and can often be seen in the Merrimac River region. The Snowy Egret lives in fresh water marshes in the west and saltwater marshes in the east.

The Snowy Egret feeds on frogs, fish, and other small animals that live in or around water. When feeding, it shuffles its feet around to stir up the food. To catch the prey, it stands motionless in the water until the animal comes close, then quickly seizes the animal with its bill.