Egret

They are usually all white unless they are in their breeding plumage

They are opportunistic feeders: Cattle egrets successfully catch insects, following large animals and farm machines. In fact, feeding with livestock helps them get about 50% more food, using only two-thirds as much energy as they usually do.

These birds can come to a fire from far away in order to catch fleeing insects.

They are known to wait for airplanes at airports to pass by grass and blow the insects out.

According to a study, conducted in Australia, feeding upon insects, these birds significantly reduce the number of flies that peck cattle off their skin.

This bird is named for its association with cattle. The Cattle egret can often be seen with livestock such as horses, cows and sheep as well as following around large wild mammals.

In 1959, the Hawaiian Board of Agriculture released 25 Cattle Egrets on Kaua'i to help control the flies and other insects plaguing cattle

While hunting in the water, Little egrets may spread one or both of their wings to shade the water and to have a better view of the prey.

During the breeding season, the adult Little egret has two long plumes on the nape that form a crest. These plumes are about 150 mm (6 in) and are pointed and very narrow.

In the early 1900s, human feather collectors devastated egret population. Used for fashion clothing and hats, their aigrette feathers were worth up to $30 an ounce – twice the price of gold at the turn of the century

They use a variety of methods to procure their food; they stalk their prey in shallow water, often running with raised wings or shuffling their feet to disturb small fish, or may stand still and wait to ambush prey. They make use of opportunities provided by cormorants disturbing fish or humans attracting fish by throwing bread into water.

This species, as its name implies, it is intermediate in size between the Great Egret and smaller white egrets like the Little Egret

It is about 90cm tall with all white plumage, generally dark legs and a thickish yellow bill.

It feeds on small fish, crustaceans and insects. It stalks the prey by walking slowly on mud, water or grass. It often stands motionless at the edge of the water, and when one prey is close enough, it jabs it with its pointed bill and it usually swallows the whole prey.

Male displays its beautiful breeding plumage and its colourful bare parts. Once a female is attracted, behaviour becomes more aggressive with mutual preening and bill clattering. Then, when the pair is formed, both adults build the nest where copulation occurs.

The Little Egret, the Intermediate Egret, and the Great Egret have all white plumage (feathers).

Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, Great Egret: what’s the difference? The Little Egret has a black beak. The Intermediate Egret has a shorter, thicker yellow beak that may turn red or black in the breeding season. The Great Egret has a long, thin, yellow beak that may become darker in the breeding season.

It is typically the largest white egret occurring anywhere in its range

These birds nest in trees, near water and gather in groups called colonies, which may include other heron or egret species. They are monogamous, and both parents incubate their three to four eggs. Young egrets are aggressive towards one another in the nest, and stronger siblings often kill their weaker kin so that not all survive to fledge in two to three weeks.

The snowy white bird's beautiful plumage made it far too popular in 19th-century North America. Great egrets were decimated by plume hunters who supplied purveyors of the latest ladies' fashions. Their populations plunged by some 95 percent. Today the outlook is much brighter. The birds have enjoyed legal protection over the last century, and their numbers have increased substantially.

Great egrets develop long, ornamental plumes on the back during the breeding season and spread them (in a fan-shaped manner) like peacocks during the courtship.