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Snowy Egret Feeding

Snowy Egret Feeding is a photograph of a common scene along the shores of Bodega Bay California. A Snowy Egret Feeding on fish occurs on the shallow shoreline of Bodega Bay.

A Snowy Egret is a common site in California, Sonoma County and on the water of Bodega Bay. Snowy Egrets are smaller then the other type of Egret seen in the area, the Great Egret. A Snowy Egret Feeding can be distinguished from the Great Egret by their long black legs with yellow feet. They are normally about 2 feet in height with a wingspan of about 3 feet in length. Males and females look alike.

The bill of this Snowy Egret Feeding is a slim black bill. The upper part of the bill of this Snowy Egret Feeding is yellow. During breeding season this yellow part of the bill near the eyes turns reddish. A juvenile Snowy Egret also has a bill that is yellow, but it is slightly paler in color.

The Snowy Egret lives in coastal wetlands and large inland waterways.

In breeding season, it has lacy plumes on its head, neck and back. When breeding, the male selects a nest location. Both the male and female both assist in building a nest. The male collects the materials and the female does the constructing. The nest is made of reeds and twigs and is placed in a bush or on the ground. The female lays three to five eggs and both parents share incubation duties. The eggs hatch in about three weeks. Both parents care for the chicks and feed them regurgitated food. The chicks fledge when they are about a month old.

A Snowy Egret Feeding stalks for prey in the shallow waters. They feed on fish, crustaceans, insects and small reptiles. They often can be seen running along the water shuffling their feet hunting for prey. A Snowy Egret Feeding will often be seen with other Snowy Egrets as they often feed in groups.