The Little Egret is a small, all-white egret, similar in shape but half the size of a Grey Heron.
Little Egrets are elegant, snow-white wading birds with long legs and a long S-shaped neck. Their straight, dagger-like bill is black, and their eyes are yellow. These birds have black legs with characteristic yellow feet, although this feature is often hidden under the water.
Female Little Egrets are smaller than their male counterparts but otherwise similar. In the breeding season, both sexes develop long paired plumes on the nape of the neck and long feathers on the breast and shoulders.
Juveniles appear similar to non-breeding adults but have dull greenish bills and legs and lack yellow feet.
Little Egrets in the UK are most likely to be confused with another all-white species, the Great White Egret (Ardea alba). However, that species is much taller and larger, with a yellow bill and yellow upper legs.
The Little Egret may appear large in flight or when standing tall with a fully extended neck, but they can look dramatically smaller when hunched at rest.
Adult Little Egrets have a body length of 55 to 65 centimetres. They are upright birds with long legs and long necks. These features allow them to walk in the water and spear their prey.
Little Egrets weigh just 350 to 550 grams, similar to a Woodpigeon.
The Little Egret has a wingspan of 88 to 95 cm.
Little Egrets are predators that search for live prey in the water and on land. They do most of their hunting in shallow fresh and saltwater environments, usually by stalking through the water.
They frequently shuffle their yellow feet to disturb their quarry from cover and may half-run-half-fly in pursuit of prey in the shallows.
Little Egrets eat the following - Small fish, Frogs, Dragonflies, crickets, and other insects.
Small crustaceans
Snails, worms, and other invertebrates.
Small birds.
Rodents.
Baby Little Egrets are fed the regurgitated prey of their parents. They will eat from the nest floor or directly from their parent’s bill.