Photo: Birdman1 / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Africa, Australia & Oceania and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 312 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 garzetta
Quick facts
- Weight
- 312 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Little Egret hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Little Egret is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a species of bird in the Ardeidae family, part of the order Pelecaniformes. It is found across Africa, Australia & Oceania and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF, OR, AU widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 312 g, with a wing length of about 25.3 cm and a tail of around 9.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 34.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Little Egret?
The Little Egret is a large bird that weighs around 312 g.
Where does the Little Egret live?
The Little Egret is found across Africa, Australia & Oceania and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF, OR, AU widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Little Egret belong to?
The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Little Egret eat?
The Little Egret hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Little Egret migrate?
The Little Egret is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Little 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 Little Egret make?
1 real field recording of the Little 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 Little Egret's range?
The Little Egret has a mapped global range of about 34.1 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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