The great egret (Ardea alba) is a bird of the family Ardeidae, in the order Pelecaniformes.
Quick answer
The great egret (Ardea alba) is a tall, all-white heron with a yellow bill and long black legs that lives in wetlands on every continent except Antarctica. It stands about 1 m tall, has a wingspan of about 1.5 m and hunts fish and frogs in shallow water. Its lacy breeding plumes almost led to its extinction in the plume trade. It is now listed as Least Concern.
Top questions about the Great Egret
Great Egret facts at a glance
- Weight 870 g
- Length 95 cm
- Lifespan 15 years
| Scientific name | Ardea alba |
|---|---|
| Other name | Great white egret |
| Diet | Fish, frogs, crustaceans, insects and small mammals |
| Habitat | Marshes, lakes, rivers, estuaries and wet fields |
| Size | Under 1 m long; wingspan about 1.5 m |
| Weight | About 0.9–1.1 kg |
| Lifespan | About 15 years in the wild |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2025) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
| Genus | Ardea |
Where it lives
The great egret (Ardea alba) is native to Wetlands on every continent except Antarctica, from the Americas and southern Europe to Africa, Asia and Australia. — recorded across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania in this guide’s range summary.
For occurrence records, see GBIF species search and sources below.
How big is a great egret?
An adult great egret measures 95 cm long — about 55% of the height of an average adult person (1.73 m) — and weighs around 870 g, about 1% of an average adult’s body weight (70 kg).
Length vs an average adult’s height (to scale)
What is a group of great egrets called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Great Egrets is called a congregation.
Baby name
A baby Great Egret is called a chick.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Identification
The great egret is pure white with a long, kinked neck, a yellow dagger-like bill and black legs and feet. In the breeding season the bill can darken and long, lacy plumes called aigrettes grow from the back. Little egrets are much smaller, with black bills and yellow feet.
Hunting
It hunts by walking slowly or standing still in shallow water, then spearing fish, frogs or crayfish with a fast jab of the bill. It also stalks dry fields for insects, rodents and small reptiles. Flight is slow and graceful, with the neck tucked back.
Saved from the plume trade
In the late 1800s egret plumes were prized for women's hats, and hunters shot breeding adults at their colonies, leaving the chicks to starve. Public outrage helped launch the first bird protection groups and laws. The great egret became the symbol of the National Audubon Society in the United States.
Status
BirdLife International lists the great white egret as Least Concern (2025), estimating 1.1 to 1.6 million mature birds and a stable trend. In Europe it has spread north and west, and it now breeds in the UK and the Netherlands.
Explore the Great Egret
Close relatives
- Grey Heron Same genus
- Great Blue Heron Same genus
- Shoebill Same order
- Brown Pelican Same order
Did you know? Great Egret facts
- The great egret is the emblem of the National Audubon Society.
- During courtship the bare skin between the eye and bill turns bright green.
Conservation status of the Great Egret
The great egret (Ardea alba) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Least Concern (LC) is the IUCN's lowest-risk category, assigned to widespread, abundant species that have been evaluated and found not to be threatened. It does not mean a species faces no pressures — only that it is not currently at risk of extinction.
Great Egret (Ardea alba) was most recently assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2025. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Great Egret
What is the difference between an egret and a heron?
There is no strict scientific difference. 'Egret' is used for several white or plumed herons; the great egret belongs to the same genus as the grey heron and great blue heron.
How big is a great egret?
Just under 1 m long and about 1 m tall, with a wingspan of around 1.5 m and a weight of roughly 0.9–1.1 kg.
Where do great egrets live?
In wetlands across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
How long do great egrets live?
About 15 years in the wild; the oldest known wild bird was nearly 23.
What is a group of great egrets called?
A group of Great Egrets is called a congregation.
What is a baby great egret called?
A baby Great Egret is called a chick.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Great Egret:
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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Ardea alba, most recently assessed in 2025.
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iNaturalist — observations & photos
Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Ardea alba. Useful for range checks and recent sightings — not a substitute for formal Red List status.
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GBIF — occurrence data
Global Biodiversity Information Facility species search for Ardea alba. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.
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eBird — bird observations
Cornell Lab eBird target search for Great Egret. Check recent checklists and seasonal abundance where birders report this species.
- BirdLife International (2026). Species factsheet: Great White Egret Ardea alba. BirdLife DataZone. Checked 1 November 2026.
IUCN Red List category Least Concern (assessed 2025), population estimate and trend.
- Animal Diversity Web: Ardea alba. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Size, lifespan and diet.
- Tobias, J. A. et al. (2022). AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds. Ecology Letters 25: 581–597. doi:10.1111/ele.13898
Average body mass.
- Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (Eds). IOC World Bird List v15.2.
English and scientific name, classification and range.
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