AFRIKAANS NAME: Geelbekwitreier
LENGTH: 69 cm
WEIGHT:460 g (male), 370 g (female)
Introduction:
Sexes Alike. Slightly taller than Little Egret but with yellow bill and bicoloured legs (yellow thighs, black lower legs). Breeding adult: Bill red, tipped orange; eyes red, lores green and has long elongated plumes. Juvenile: Similar to non-breeding adult.
Habitat:
Shallow water margins and flooded wetlands.
Diet:
Mostly fish, frogs and aquatic insects.
Behaviour:
Usually solitary, sometimes in loose flocks of up to 20. Roosts communally, usually with other water birds, in reed beds or trees (including mangroves) over water. Flight buoyant, with slow wing-beats. Hunts by day in shallow water or grass; also hunts from floating vegetation in deeper water. Wades or walks slowly, stabbing at prey. Other techniques include stand and wait (for up to 90% of the time), with head and neck tilted to one side.
Breeding:
Nest built by female, material delivered by male. A platform, 200-800 mm in diameter, 150-400 mm high, built of sticks and reeds, lined with grass. Placed 1.5 - 6.0 m above water in tree or reed bed.
Call:
Typical heron like call like waaaark.
Migration:
Present throughout range year-round and probably resident in some areas, but undertakes local movements in response to changing water levels.
Similar species:
Considerably smaller than Western Great Egret (with all black legs). Western Great Egret with proportionally slimmer neck and longer bill; gape extends behind eye.
Distribution:
Found throughout the Eastern Cape.