Subspecies:alba recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
94 cm
Wingspan:
155 cm
Weight:
M/F: 870 g
Scientific name from:
L.: ardea=a heron
and L.: albus=white
World Distribution:
From e Europe through s&c Asia to Australasia, e,s Africa and Americas from c US south to s South America
Habitat:
Marshes, reedbed, lakes & rivers
Diet:
Insects, also fish in wet season, small mammals in dry season
TitBit:
The slaughter of egrets for their plumes lead to the formation in Didsbury (near Manchester) of the Society for the Protection of Birds in 1889, it received a royal warrant 15 years later; its lady members used farmed ostrich feathers instead
These data should be cited as: Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.24, June 2009). BTO Research Report 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)
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Other Names
