Great White Egret
Scientific Name: Ardea albaMaltese Name: Russett Abjad
Family: Herons (Ardeidae)
Occurence: Very Scarce
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Great White Egret, is a large, widely-distributed egret. Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, in southern Europe it is rather localized. The Great White Egret is a large bird with all-white plumage that can reach one meter in height. It is thus only slightly smaller than the Grey Heron. Apart from size, the Great White Egret can be distinguished from other white egrets by its yellow bill and black legs and feet, though the bill may become darker and the lower legs lighter in the breeding season. In breeding plumage, delicate ornamental feathers are borne on the back. It has a slow flight, with its neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes, ibises and spoonbills. The Great White Egret feeds in shallow water or drier habitats, feeding mainly on fish, frogs, small mammals, and occasionally small birds and reptiles, spearing them with its long, sharp bill most of the time by standing still and allowing the prey to come within its striking distance of its bill which it uses as a spear. The Great Egret is partially migratory, with northern hemisphere birds moving south from areas with cold winters. It breeds in colonies in trees close to large lakes with reed beds or other extensive wetlands. It builds a bulky stick nest.
Status:
Very Scarce and Irregular migrant. Used to be considered as a rare bird till the mid-1990's but has lately become more common, with multiple records each year, especially in spring and autumn. The larget flock ever recorded in Malta was of 11 from Imriehel, on the 5th of October 2002.
When to See:
Mostly Seen in March/April and August/September but has been recorded in nearly all months of the year.
Where to See:
Mostly seen flying in from the sea from the coast. Qawra is a good place. Ghadira Nature Reserve is now often used by Great White Egrets to rest. Less often, Great White Egrets rest at Simar Nature Reserve.
Photographs:
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| Great White Egret, 29th September 2005, Simar Nature Reserve | |
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| Great White Egret, 2nd October 2009, Ghadira Nature Reserve | Great White Egret, 25th February 2007, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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| Great White Egret, 30th October 2009, Ghadira Nature Reserve | 5 Great White Egrets, 22nd March 2009, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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