Reddish Egret (GTM Research Reserve Bird Guide)

Reddish Egret

Egretta rufescens

Summary ⁶

The Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) is a small heron. It is a resident breeder in Central America, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Gulf Coast of the United States, and Mexico. There is post-breeding dispersal to well north of the nesting range. In the past, this bird was a victim of the plume trade.

Comprehensive description ⁷

The Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) is a long-legged, long-necked heron closely tied to coastal regions. It ranges from the southern U.S. and Mexico south through the West Indies to Northern Columbia and Northern Venezuela. It is rarely found far from the coast, where it feeds mainly on fish. (Martinez-Vilalta and Motis 1992; Kaufman 1996) Both dark and white morphs occur, with the white morph being far more common in the Bahamas and Greater Antilles than it is in the United States. (Lowther and Paul 2002)