Eastern Great EgretScientific name: Ardea modesta
Meaning of name: Ardea is Latin for heron. Modesta is from the Latin word modestus, meaning modest or unassuming.
Distribution: Found in many parts of the world. In Australia, the Eastern Great Egret is widespread but absent from the drier interior.
Description: This bird grows up to 103cm long with a wingspan of approximately 150cm.
Notes:The furthest distance recorded by the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme for this species of bird to travel is 3,366km. The oldest bird recorded was still alive when its band was read in July 2010, 9 years 4.5 months after being banded (information as at 13 June 2012).
References: Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Various contributors.
What Bird is That? Neville W Cayley. 1978
Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.
Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/science/abbbs/abbbs-search.html
The green face and filamentous plumes on the back indicate that this bird is in breeding condition.
Eastern Great egrets eat fish, frogs, insects and small birds. They have also been seen to eat long-necked turtles.
Photograph courtesy of Gary Tate.
