Great Egret

The Great Egret is a familiar sight across Ecuador’s lowland wetlands, estuaries, and rice fields, occurring year-round from coastal mangroves to Amazonian oxbow lakes and occasionally up to mid-elevation valleys. It is a widespread and adaptable species, often seen stalking fish and amphibians in shallow waters with deliberate grace. Despite habitat pressures, it remains globally and nationally classified as Least Concern, thanks to its broad range and tolerance of human-altered landscapes. During the breeding season, Great Egrets gather in mixed-species colonies, where males display ornate plumes to attract mates and construct stick nests high in trees over water.