RSPB Scotland's Molly Martin shares five facts about egrets.
Five facts about egrets
Egrets are types of heron, there are many species and can be found all across the world. Egrets have only recently started colonising from southern Europe, and now three species can be found across the UK, right up into Scotland: Cattle, great white, and little egrets.
The most common egret you will now see in the UK is the little egret. Since the 1980s, little egrets which breed in western France have started heading north. Now, almost a thousand pairs breed here each year! Cattle egrets are native to Africa and Asia, where, as their name suggests, they live harmoniously with cattle and other large herbivores. Cattle egret have even been seen riding on elephants’ backs! Great white egrets have also expanded their range northerly, from their native home of southern Europe.
All three egret species are fish eaters. They can be found on the coast or along estuaries, standing or wading slowly through the water, ready to quickly strike and catch a fish, amphibian, or insect, which they then swallow whole.
Egrets normally nest in large groups called heronries, alongside our native grey heron. Cattle egrets have only just started to breed in the UK and are less widespread, not usually seen in Scotland.
All three of these egret species are long legged, wading birds, with long necks and beaks which enable them to fish. They all have bright white feathers, and the cattle egrets have gingery fronts and heads. Little egrets have characteristic tufts of white feathers on the back of their heads. Great white egrets and cattle egrets have yellow beaks, and little egrets have black beaks.
History with RSPB
The RSPB was first set up in 1889 to protect egrets, along with birds of paradise, as their beautiful feathers were being imported to the UK for women’s hats. In 1891, the society published its first leaflet, entitled ‘Destruction of Ornamental-Plumaged Birds’, with the aim to save the egret population by informing wealthy women of the environmental damage of using feathers for fashion.