• The following pages have some identification markers for each of Egrets found in India
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Sno. Name Binomial Name
2 Great Egret Casmerodius albus
3 Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia
4 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
5 Pacific Reef Egret Egretta sacra
6 Western Reef Egret Egretta gularis
©www.ogaclicks.com Cattle Egret identification Tips- B. i. coromandus Cattle Egret : Bubulcus ibis coromandus : Widespread resident in India Iris yellow Lores yellow White head & Crown
Bill is yellow White chin & throat Orange Lores Orange head & Crown Upper parts are White
Non-Breeding Wing coverts are White
White Wings Underparts are White
Orange plumes on back Orange-buff plumes from neck to chest
Legs are Dark Green
White tail Legs are bright reddish turning dark green Breeding
Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Both the sexes similar Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Great Egret identification Tips Great Egret : Casmerodius albus : Widespread resident in India eye-ring lime green Lores Lime green White head & Crown
Bill is orange-yellow with dark upper mandible White chin & throat S shape to long neck
Upper parts are White
Underparts are White
White Wings
Long plumes (aigrettes), extending beyond tail
Legs are black
Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Both the sexes similar Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Intermediate Egret identification Tips Intermediate Egret : Ardea intermedia : Widespread resident in India eye-ring lime green Lores Lime green White head & Crown
Bill is black Bill is Orange White chin & throat NO KINCK in the neck
Upper parts are White
White plumes from neck to chest
White Wings Plumes are absent Plumes are absent Long plumes (aigrettes), extending beyond tail
Legs are black
Breeding
Important id point
Both the sexes similar Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Difference from Breeding plumage www.HBW.com Little Egret identification Tips Little Egret : Ardea intermedia : Widespread resident in India Yellow eyes White head & Crown
Yellow eyes White Crest Bill is black
Blue grey lores White chin & throat Upper parts are White No crest White Wings
White plumes from neck to chest Long plumes (aigrettes)
Plumes are absent Breeding NO plumes from neck to chest Legs are black
Reddish toes
Yellow toes Non-breeding
Important id point
Both the sexes similar Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Difference from Breeding plumage www.HBW.com Pacific Reef Egret identification Tips Pacific Reef Egret : Egretta sacra : Resident of Andaman & Nicobar Islands in India
Eye is yellow Slate Grey/ Grey-brown head & Crown
Eye is yellow Bill is black Upper parts are Slate Grey/ Grey-brown
Bill is Yellow White head & Crown Dark Morph Upper parts are White
Slate Grey/ Grey-brown underparts
Legs are Yellow Slate Grey/ Grey-brown Wings White underparts
White Morph
Feet are Yellow
Legs are Yellow
Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Both the sexes similar www.HBW.com Western Reef Egret identification Tips Western Reef Egret : Egretta gularis : Resident of Coast of West & South East India
Eye is yellow Slate Grey/ Grey-brown head & Crown
Eye is yellow Bill is black Upper parts are Charcoal Grey Bill is Yellow White head & Crown Throats and chins are marked by a narrow, white stripe Upper parts are White
Charcoal Grey Wings Charcoal Grey underparts
Grey & white Plumes in the chest
White underparts
Leg is Yellow
White Morph Feet is Yellow Dark Morph
Feet is Yellow
Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Both the sexes similar www.HBW.com Egrets Comparison Cattle Egret Great Egret
Yellow lores Greenish Yellow lores
Stout yellow-orange Bill Gape extends beyond center of eye
Pronounced Kink on neck Intermediate Egret Little Egret
Yellow lores Blue-grey lores
Gape till center of eye Long Black Bill
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