26-3-2025 YALA NAT PARK, SRI LANKA - MEDIUM EGRET (Ardea intermedia)

The intermediate egret, also known as the median egret, smaller egret, or medium egret, is a medium-sized heron with a graceful stature. It is adorned with all-white plumage, and during the breeding season, it may exhibit a reddish or black bill, greenish-yellow gape skin, and loose filamentous plumes on its breast and back. The legs are generally dark, and the bill is thickish and yellow, with regional variations in coloration. Both sexes are similar in appearance.

This egret stands between 56–72 cm (22–28 in) in length, with a wingspan of 105–115 cm (41–45 in), and weighs approximately 400 g (14 oz). It can be distinguished from other egrets by its size, which is intermediate between the great egret and smaller white egrets such as the little egret and cattle egret. The intermediate egret has a slightly domed head and a shorter, thicker bill compared to the great egret. Its gape line ends below the eye, and it has a neck length slightly less than its body length.

The intermediate egret is a resident breeder in southern and eastern Asia, favoring shallow coastal or freshwater environments, including flooded fields.

This species is found across Asia, from the Russian Far East to Japan, India, and the Greater Sundas. It is also present in sub-Saharan Africa, eastern Indonesia, New Guinea, and Australia.

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - MEDIUM EGRET (Ardea intermedia)

The medium egret (Ardea intermedia), median egret, smaller egret or intermediate egret, is a medium-sized heron. Some taxonomists put the species in the genus Egretta or Mesophoyx. It is a resident breeder in southern and eastern Asia.

Some authorities classify the intermediate egret species complex in its own monotypic genus, Mesophoyx, while others place it with the smaller egrets in Egretta.

The medium egret, as its scientific name implies, is intermediate in size between the great egret and smaller white egrets like the little egret and cattle egret, though nearer to little than great. It is about 56–72 cm (22–28 in) long with a 105–115 cm (41–45 in) wingspan and weighs c. 400 g (14 oz), with all-white plumage, generally dark legs and a thickish yellow bill. Breeding birds may have a reddish or black bill, greenish yellow gape skin, loose filamentous plumes on their breast and back, and dull yellow or pink on their upper legs (regional variations). The sexes are similar. 

12-12-2015 BAGAN, BURMA - MEDIUM EGRET (Ardea intermedia)

The intermediate egret (Ardea intermedia), median egret, smaller egret or medium egret, is a medium-sized heron. Some taxonomists put the species in the genus Egretta or Mesophoyx. It is a resident breeder in southern and eastern Asia.

This species, as its scientific name implies, is intermediate in size between the great egret and smaller white egrets like the little egret and cattle egret, though nearer to little than great. It is about 56–72 cm (22–28 in) long with a 105–115 cm (41–45 in) wingspan and weighs c. 400 g (14 oz), with all-white plumage, generally dark legs and a thickish yellow bill. Breeding birds may have a reddish or black bill, greenish yellow gape skin, loose filamentous plumes on their breast and back, and dull yellow or pink on their upper legs (regional variations). The sexes are similar.

24-5-2023 SUKAU RIVER LODGE, BORNEO - MEDIUM EGRET (Ardea intermedia)

The intermediate egret, median egret, smaller egret, or yellow-billed egret (Ardea intermedia) is a medium-sized heron. Some taxonomists put the species in the genus Egretta or Mesophoyx. It is a resident breeder from east Africa across the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia and Australia.

Some authorities classify the intermediate egret in its own monotypic genus, Mesophoyx, while others place it with the smaller egrets in Egretta.

 

The intermediate egret stalks its prey methodically in shallow coastal or fresh water, including flooded fields. It eats fish, frogs, crustaceans and insects. It often nests in colonies with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. The typical clutch size is 2 or 3 eggs but there can be as many as 6 eggs in a clutch, the colour of the eggs is pale green, with a smooth, slightly pitted shell. Both parents incubate the eggs and they hatch after between 24 and 27 days. The eggs hatch asynchronously, after hatching the adults brood the semialtricial young for 12 days, defending the nests from aerial predators during both incubation and brooding, they crouch over the nest and raise their plumes and point their bill towards the threat. The parenst regurgitate the food to feed the young, initially onto the floor of the nest but later the chick takes the food from the parent's mouth. There may be competition for food within the brood. Pinfeathers may appear on the chicks as early as 4 days old and the young are able to leave the nest at 24 days old, although they return to be fed. Fledging occurs at around 40 days old and they leave the colony after 70 days. In Africa and Australia they are reported to be quite successful breeders with 96% and 88% of nests fledging at least a single chick. Intermediate egret populations are more successful in wet years than in dry years.

17-4-2022 MANDINA LODGE, GAMBIA - MEDIUM EGRET (Ardea intermedia)

The intermediate egret (Ardea intermedia), median egret, smaller egret or medium egret, is a medium-sized heron. Some taxonomists put the species in the genus Egretta or Mesophoyx. It is a resident breeder in southern and eastern Asia.

Some authorities classify the intermediate egret in its own monotypic genus, Mesophoyx, while others place it with the smaller egrets in Egretta.

There were three recognised subspecies, and these are sometimes raised in to species:

A. i. brachyrhyncha Brehm, 1854 "yellow-billed egret" - sub-Saharan Africa

A.i. intermedia Wagler, 1827 "intermediate egret" - Asia from the Russian Far East to Japan to India and the Greater Sundas

A. i. plumifera Gould, 1848 "plumed egret" - eastern Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia.

A.(i.) intermedia differs from A.(i.) brachyrhyncha and A. (i.) plumifera by having a black bill when in breeding plumage, while A.(i.) plumifera has a yellow-and-pink bill and A. (i.) brachyrhyncha has much yellower lores and face. A further difference between this species and the "yellow-billed" species is that the intermediate egret has black at the top of the legs compared to reddish in the yellow-billed egret.

The split of intermediate egret into 3 species was accepted by the IOC on 26 September 2023, this form was given the common name medium egret by the IOC.

11-3-2020 KERALA, INDIA - MEDIUM EGRET (Ardea intermedia)