Photo: AMMuench / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of North America.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 371 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
- Genus Egretta
- Species thula
Quick facts
- Weight
- 371 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Snowy Egret hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Snowy Egret is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is a species of bird in the Ardeidae family, part of the order Pelecaniformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 371 g, with a wing length of about 25.3 cm and a tail of around 11 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 19.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Snowy Egret?
The Snowy Egret is a large bird that weighs around 371 g.
Where does the Snowy Egret live?
The Snowy Egret is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Snowy Egret belong to?
The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Snowy Egret eat?
The Snowy Egret hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Snowy Egret migrate?
The Snowy Egret is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Snowy Egret endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Snowy Egret make?
1 real field recording of the Snowy Egret — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Snowy Egret's range?
The Snowy Egret has a mapped global range of about 19.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Great Egret vs Snowy Egret: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Great Egret from a Snowy Egret — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.