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Western Reef-Heron
Egretta gularis
At a Glance
Native to tropical coasts in the Old World, a single Western Reef-Heron created a sensation in 1983 by spending more than four months on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. Since then the species has been found a few more times in eastern North America and many times in the Caribbean, suggesting that it may stray across fairly often from West Africa.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Long-legged Waders
Conservation
Low Concern
Habitat
Freshwater Wetlands, Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers, Saltwater Wetlands
Behavior
Direct Flight
Range & Identification
Description
23-25" (58-62 cm). Very rare visitor along east coast. Size and shape similar to Snowy Egret but with thicker, longer bill. Usually dark slate gray with white throat. Has black legs with yellow feet, dull yellow bill.
Size
About the size of a Mallard or Herring Gull
Wing Shape
Broad, Fingered, Long
Tail Shape
Short
Songs and Calls
Squawk similar to many related species.
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