Lens on Nature

Snowy egrets are unique among the egrets in having black legs and yellow feet. The snowy egret is a small bird, standing only about 25" - 30" high. The Great Blue Heron, the Great Egret, and the reddish egret are considerably larger, standing about 40-45" high.

Like the Great Blue Heron, these beautiful birds feed by stealth, by standing still for long periods in shallow water. However, they often will hunt in a way unique to their species, by standing on a twig or log which is barely submerged. They will then wiggle their bright yellow toes, which sometimes will attract fish. Again, when prey wanders too close, they will strike with their long, pointed bill, snatching their hapless prey from the water.


In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these birds were nearly hunted to extinction for their canopy of feathers, which were used as decoration in ladies hats, fashionable at the time.