WHITE EGRETS 1
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
F
M Vorompotsy Héron Garde-boeufs
DISTRIBUTION: Almost worldwide. Common in Length: 48–54 cm | 19–21" Madagascar in many habitats including dry fields, WHERE TO SEE: Almost cultivated areas and wetland shores. This is the least anywhere. aquatic of Madagascar’s herons and egrets. ID: Smaller and more compact than Little Egret, and much more terrestrial. Also identified by yellow bill, unicoloured legs and buff patches on the head and breast of breeding birds. BEHAVIOUR: Usually in groups, often with livestock. Insects are its main food, so it benefits from the disturbance created by cattle, which flush grasshoppers and other small animals. 2
Little Egret Egretta garzetta dimorpha
F
M Vanofotsy Aigrette Garzette
DISTRIBUTION: Much of the Old World. Throughout Length: 55–65 cm | 22–26" Madagascar in a variety of salt and freshwater wetlands. WHERE TO SEE: Common at Most common along the muddy shores of the west coast. all coastal sites, and present Dark morph birds generally predominate along the coast throughout the island. while light morph birds are more common inland. The race dimorpha of Little Egret that ocurs in Madagascar is sometimes split as Dimorphic Egret. ID: Light and dark morphs are very different. Light morph can be distinguished from Great Egret by its smaller size, dark bill and legs, and yellow feet. Dark morph differentiated from Black Heron (page 90) by longer bill and neck, and usually a white throat and white patch in the wing. Slaty-grey intermediate birds look unlike other Malagasy egrets. BEHAVIOUR: Can be solitary or in groups. Feeds more actively than most egrets and herons, sometimes dashing around frantically. Fish are its primary food. 3
Great Egret Ardea alba
F
DISTRIBUTION: Much of the world. Common throughout Madagascar in fresh and saltwater wetlands, including rice paddies. ID: The largest white egret, with dark legs and feet. Never shows head plumes. In flight, wingbeats are slow and long legs trail behind. BEHAVIOUR: Forages alone or in groups, primarily eating fish. Like most egrets and herons, roosts communally with other species.
Size is one of the quickest ways of telling the white egrets apart
92
Length:
M Vanofotsy Be Grande Aigrette
85–95 cm | 2·8–3·1’
WHERE TO SEE: Common around Tana and throughout the island.
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Facial skin turns bright green when breeding