#0568 · 🐦 birds

Great Egret

🇳🇱 Grote zilverreiger ·Ardea alba

LCleast concern 🐦 Birds 📍 in the Netherlands

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © daverowe · CC BY-NC 4.0
2. © Kyle Tansley · CC BY-NC 4.0
3. © Mike Baird · CC BY 4.0
4. © daverowe · CC BY-NC 4.0
5. Schiedam, Nederland:© Jan van Holten · CC BY-NC 4.0
6. Aartswoud, Netherlands:© thegreatdodo · CC BY-NC 4.0
7. Schiedam, Nederland:© Jan van Holten · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. Aartswoud, Netherlands:© thegreatdodo · CC BY-NC 4.0
9. Lelystad:© witje · CC BY-NC 4.0
10. Vriezenveen, Netherlands:© Joren van Schie · CC BY-NC 4.0

what is it?

The great egret ( Ardea alba ), also known as the common egret , large egret or (in the Old World) great white egret or great white heron is a large, widely distributed egret, with four subspecies found in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and southern Europe. Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world. It builds tree nests in colonies close to water.

base stats

NL sightings 1,969iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 434,609iNaturalist observations
threat LCleast concern

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

Spotted 1,969 times in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: the #37 most seen of the birds in NL.
434,609 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named in 1758 (268 years ago).