Plumed Egret

Ardea plumifera

Plumed Egret (Ardea plumifera) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of South & Southeast Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Indonesia Birds of New Zealand Birds of Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria

By family

Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Australia Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Indonesia Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of New Zealand Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Australian Capital Territory Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of New South Wales Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Northern Territory Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Queensland Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of South Australia Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Victoria

See what's near you right now

The Plumed Egret (Ardea plumifera) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 459 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Pelecaniformes
Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
Genus Ardea
Species plumifera

Where it lives

Eastern Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia

South & Southeast Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 459 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Ardeidae
Order: Pelecaniformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Plumed Egret hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Plumed Egret is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Plumed Egret (Ardea plumifera) is a species of bird in the Ardeidae family, part of the order Pelecaniformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR e Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 459 g, with a wing length of about 28.3 cm and a tail of around 11.1 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 5.3 million km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Plumed Egret?

The Plumed Egret is a large bird that weighs around 459 g.

Where does the Plumed Egret live?

The Plumed Egret is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR e Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Plumed Egret belong to?

The Plumed Egret (Ardea plumifera) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.

What does the Plumed Egret eat?

The Plumed Egret hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Plumed Egret migrate?

The Plumed Egret is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Plumed 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.

How large is the Plumed Egret's range?

The Plumed Egret has a mapped global range of about 5.3 million km².