Green with Envy

(Great Egrets)

The Great Egret seems plentiful almost anywhere in the country. Chances are very good that you will see one, probably more—bright white standouts on a marsh whether fresh water or salty. They might be confused with the smaller Snowy or Cattle Egrets except they’re two to three times taller. They compare with the statuesque Great Blue Heron, both towering over other egrets, sometimes reaching five feet!

During the breeding season, Great Egrets display long, delicate white plumes that redefine the notion of feathers—so beautiful, literally flowing on any breeze. Along with those feathers comes a startling change in the color of the skin patch that stretches between eyes and beak on the male birds. On a bright day, with good binoculars, and a little luck, you would be amazed to see the almost phosphorescent green that graces the males at this time of year.