Information about egrets

There are 13 species of birds in the genus Egret, among which there are four species: great egret, medium egret, egret (little egret) and snowy egret, all of which have all-white body feathers and are commonly known as egrets in the world. The great egret is large in size and has neither crest nor breast feathers. The medium egret is medium in size and has no crest but breast feathers. The egret and snowy egret are small in size and have all the feathers on the crest and breast. The crown feathers and cape feathers produced by egrets during the breeding season can be used for decoration. They are commonly known as egret silk feathers and are often exported to Europe, America and other parts of the world.

Species Characteristics

Description: Medium-sized (60 cm) white heron. The difference from the Cattle Egret is that it is larger and slender, with a black bill and legs, yellow toes, pure white breeding feathers, slender feathers on the nape of the neck, and rhododendron-like feathers on the back and chest.

Iris - yellow; exposed skin on the face is yellow-green, turning light pink during the breeding season; mouth - black; legs and feet - black, with yellow toes.

Crying: It makes a croaking sound in the breeding nest, and is silent the rest of the time.

Distribution range: Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

Distribution status: The named subspecies is a common resident bird and migratory bird, distributed in southern China, Taiwan and Hainan Island. Lost birds sometimes come to Beijing. Some birds spend the winter in tropical areas.

Habits: Like rice fields, river banks, beaches, mudflats and coastal streams. Eating in scattered groups, often mixed with other species. Sometimes they fly over shallow coastal waters in pursuit of prey. When flying back to their roost at night, they form a "V" formation. Nest in colonies with other waterbirds.

Common names: White crane, white egret, white bird, hoe, tiny egret, little egret, silk harp, snow guest, cup of heron

Extended information

Population status

The great egret is a species on the list of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The egret has been included in the "Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Japan on the Protection of Migratory Birds and Their Habitat Environment". 》The little egret is the most common type of heron, often referred to as the egret. It is a species on the list of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Yellow-billed egret and rock egret are both national second-class protected animals. The yellow-billed egret is an internationally endangered species.

The rock heron is one of 11 highly endangered birds in China. It is rare in China and is in an endangered state. The rock heron has been included in the schedule of the "Agreement between the Governments of the People's Republic of China and Australia on the Protection of Migratory Birds and Their Habitats". The yellow-billed egret is a new species collected by Robert Swinhoe (UK) in Xiamen in 1860. This species has been included in the "List of Terrestrial Wild Animals Protected by the State and Beneficial or of Important Economic and Scientific Research Value" issued by the State Forestry Administration on August 1, 2000.

Growth and Reproduction

The breeding period is from May to July every year. They nest on islands near the coast and on rocks at overhanging rocks on the coast or between short tree branches. They like to build nests together in groups. Someone once found 14 nests on the top of a hanging rock of only about 20 square meters, and on the top of an adjacent hanging rock of only more than 10 square meters. There are 11 nests on the top of the rock, and the distance between each nest is only 14 to 76 centimeters.

In the past, there used to be mixed groups of yellow-billed egrets, egrets, cattle egrets, night herons and herons nesting in Taiwan. Its nest has a shallow saucer shape and a relatively simple structure, mainly composed of withered grass stems and grass leaves. The nest is built on a dwarf tree, and the height from the ground is no more than 1 meter. Some nests are also built in the grass under a dwarf tree. Each clutch lays 2 to 4 eggs. The eggs are oval in shape and light blue in color. The incubation period is 24 to 26 days.

The yellow-billed egret used to be a common summer migratory bird along the southern coast of China, especially on the coast from Shantou, Guangdong to Fuzhou, Fujian. In the 1960s, it was also seen in the Yalu River in Northeast China and Hunchun in eastern Jilin. In the early 1980s, nesting populations of more than 200 to 300 pairs were discovered in the Liaodong Peninsula and coastal islands. Large groups of dozens of individuals can often be seen on the beach foraging for food in the waters near the coast. However, due to environmental damage and human interference, especially because its pure white hairy feathers and cape feathers are extremely valuable ornaments and a large number are hunted every year, the population has declined significantly recently. As a result, its population has been declining and it has become very rare to see.

According to the Asian midwinter waterbird surveys organized by the International Waterfowl Research Bureau in 1990 and 1992, only 143 were seen in my country in 1992, and 448 were seen in Southeast Asia. Currently, the Yellow-billed Egret has been listed in the Red Book of World Endangered Birds by the International Committee for the Protection of Birds (ICBP), and China has listed it as a national Level II protected animal.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Egret (a common name for four species of birds belonging to the genus Egret)

Baidu Encyclopedia-Egret (a type of bird belonging to the genus Egret)