The Great Egret is a tall, all-white wading bird with a yellow bill and black legs, found on every continent except Antarctica. Its breeding plumes — lacy back feathers called aigrettes — were so fashionable in the late 19th century that the species was nearly hunted to extinction; outrage over the slaughter directly launched the conservation movement that created the Audubon Society. It is the symbol of the National Audubon Society.
Best time to see a Great Egret
The best time to see a Great Egret is March–September, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 212,941 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Great Egret? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Great Egret sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a Great Egret? Identify it instantly.
Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.
Get HuckGet an alert when a Great Egret is spotted
Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.
Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.
Love birds? Get Huck field notes
Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.