[Length 30 in. Wingspan 46 in.]

Reddish Egrets are uncommon breeders and residents along the southern coasts of the US. They hunt energetically by dashing about and holding their wings as a canopy or umbrella. Even at a great distance, this activity allows them to be easily distinguished from the similar Little Blue Heron. This one, in full hunting "gait", was photographed at Laguna Atascosa NWR, Texas. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: March 1980)

[Length 30 in. Wingspan 46 in.]

This white phase Reddish Egret was photographed in the Florida Keys. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: June 1983)

[Length 30 in. Wingspan 46 in.]

This juvenile Reddish Egret was photographed in Kerrville, Texas, hundreds of miles from its normal coastal habitat. It is the first documented record of this species in the Texas Hill Country. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: August 2001)

[Length 30 in. Wingspan 46 in.]

This juvenile Reddish Egret was photographed in Kerrville, Texas, hundreds of miles from its normal coastal habitat. It is the first documented record of this species in the Texas Hill Country. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: August 2001)

[Length 30 in. Wingspan 46 in.]

This juvenile Reddish Egret was photographed at the South Padre Island Convention Center Board Walk, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor EDAF 300 f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: August 2003)

[Length 30 in. Wingspan 46 in.]

This Reddish Egret was photographed at Bolivar Flats, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: May 6, 2008)

[Length 30 in. Wingspan 46 in.]

This white phase Reddish Egret was photographed at Rollover Pass, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC20E II 2.0x Teleconverter (EFL=900mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: May 7, 2008)

[Length 24 in. Wingspan 41 in.]

Snowy egrets were once hunted almost to extinction so that women's hats could sport the Egret's wispy plumes, called aigrettes, which grow during the breeding season. This adult in breeding plumage clearly shows the bristling plumes that nearly caused its species' demise. Fortunately, due to conservation efforts, Snowy egrets are now a common sight near almost any body of water throughout much of the US. This one was photographed at Brigantine NWR, New Jersey. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: April 1984)