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Great Egret

Ardea alba

Bird · family Ardeidae · order Pelecaniformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
46 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
22 years[4]

The Great Egret (Ardea alba) is a bird in the heron family, Ardeidae[5]. It is ranked Secure worldwide by NatureServe and is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Great Egret G5, which means Secure worldwide[2]. In the United States it is ranked Secure for both breeding and nonbreeding birds[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Great Egret lives

NatureServe lists the Great Egret as native in 46 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. These include Florida, California, Texas, New York and Minnesota, along with many other states from coast to coast[3]. NatureServe gives the Great Egret different conservation ranks in different states[10]. GBIF observation records are highest in Florida, California, Texas, New York and New Jersey, but those counts follow where people look and report[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S1B,S3NMEWisconsin: native, state rank S3BWIVermont: native, state rank S1BVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank SNANHWashington: native, state rank S3BWAIdaho: native, state rank S2BIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNANDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRBMNIllinois: native, state rank S3ILMichigan: native, state rank S2MINew York: native, state rank S4NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S2B,S4NMAOregon: native, state rank S3ORNevada: native, state rank S4BNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S3BSDIowa: native, state rank S3B,S4NIAIndiana: native, state rank S1BINOhio: native, state rank S1OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S2B,S4N,S3MPANew Jersey: native, state rank S4B,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S2BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S1BRICalifornia: native, state rank S4CAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: native, state rank S1BCONebraska: native, state rank SNRNNEMissouri: native, state rank S3MOKentucky: native, state rank S2BKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S1NWVVirginia: native, state rank S2B,S3NVAMaryland: native, state rank S3BMDDelaware: native, state rank S1BDEArizona: native, state rank S1B,S4NAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S3B,S4NNMKansas: native, state rank S3BKSArkansas: native, state rank S2BARTennessee: native, state rank S2B,S3NTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S4B,S4NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S4NDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNRBOKLouisiana: native, state rank S4N,S5BLAMississippi: native, state rank S5BMSAlabama: native, state rank S4ALGeorgia: native, state rank S4GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (46 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS4Apparently Secure
ArizonaS1B,S4NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
ArkansasS2BImperiled (breeding)
CaliforniaS4Apparently Secure
ColoradoS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
ConnecticutS2BImperiled (breeding)
DelawareS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
District of ColumbiaS4NApparently Secure (nonbreeding)
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS4Apparently Secure
IdahoS2BImperiled (breeding)
IllinoisS3Vulnerable
IndianaS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
IowaS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS3BVulnerable (breeding)
KentuckyS2BImperiled (breeding)
LouisianaS4N,S5BApparently Secure (nonbreeding), Secure (breeding)
MaineS1B,S3NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
MarylandS3BVulnerable (breeding)
MassachusettsS2B,S4NImperiled (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
MichiganS2Imperiled
MinnesotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MississippiS5BSecure (breeding)
MissouriS3Vulnerable
NebraskaSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
NevadaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
New HampshireSNANot Applicable
New JerseyS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS4Apparently Secure
North CarolinaS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
North DakotaSNANot Applicable
OhioS1Critically Imperiled
OklahomaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OregonS3Vulnerable
PennsylvaniaS2B,S4N,S3MImperiled (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding), Vulnerable (migrant)
Rhode IslandS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
South CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
South DakotaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
TennesseeS2B,S3NImperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
VermontS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
VirginiaS2B,S3NImperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
WashingtonS3BVulnerable (breeding)
West VirginiaS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS3BVulnerable (breeding)

Habitat

The Great Egret lives in wet places[12]. NatureServe records herbaceous wetland, scrub-shrub wetland, forested wetland, riparian areas, shallow water, bays, lagoons and tidal flats[12]. It also uses fields and meadows[13]. It nests mostly in tall trees, often alongside other colonial water birds, and colonies are reused from one year to the next[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Great Egret eats fish, frogs and other amphibians, snakes, snails, crabs and their kin, insects and small mammals[14]. It is recorded as a carnivore, a fish eater and an eater of invertebrates[15]. NatureServe records a typical length of 99 cm (39 in)[16]. A typical adult weighs 935 g[17]. A clutch is usually 3 to 4 eggs in the north and 2 to 3 in the south, and both parents incubate for 23 to 25 days[18]. The young fly at about 6 weeks[18]. The oldest known banded bird was at least 22 years 10 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 99 cm (39 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 935 g (33.0 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[19] 22.8 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 22 years 10 months
Litter or clutch size[20] 3
Gestation or incubation[21] 23 days
Female maturity[22] 730 days (about 2.0 years)
Food habits[15] Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore
Migration[23] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe describes the Great Egret as active in daylight and also around dawn and dusk, which is what crepuscular means[24]. Birds arrive at their night roost at sunset or dark and leave at first light[25]. Birds in the north migrate, and they spread out widely after breeding before heading south[26]. Some populations do not migrate, and others move only short distances[23]. GBIF records in the United States peak in April, May and September, which reflects when people look and report[27].

January: 520,454 recordsJanFebruary: 428,733 recordsFebMarch: 439,570 recordsMarApril: 721,610 recordsAprMay: 773,551 recordsMayJune: 450,388 recordsJunJuly: 517,404 recordsJulAugust: 680,986 recordsAugSeptember: 698,396 recordsSepOctober: 589,960 recordsOctNovember: 438,598 recordsNovDecember: 442,418 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[27].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January520,454
February428,733
March439,570
April721,610
May773,551
June450,388
July517,404
August680,986
September698,396
October589,960
November438,598
December442,418

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Great Egret as present in 105 park units[28]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 81 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, California, Texas, New York, New Jersey[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Great Egret endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the Great Egret live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 46 US states and territories, including Florida, California, Texas and New York[3]. It uses marshes, shallow water, tidal areas and fields[12][13].
What does the Great Egret eat?
Fish, frogs and other amphibians, snakes, snails, crabs and their kin, insects and small mammals[14].
How big is a Great Egret?
NatureServe records a typical length of 99 cm (39 in)[16]. A typical adult weighs 935 g[17].
How long does a Great Egret live?
The oldest known banded Great Egret was at least 22 years 10 months old[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Great Egret is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Great Egret: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Great Egret as native in 46 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Great Egret from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 22 years 10 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Great Egret (Ardea alba) is a bird in the family Ardeidae, order Pelecaniformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Great Egret is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Great Egret (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Great Egret: Florida, California, Texas, New York, New Jersey. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Great Egret: Grassland/herbaceous, Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested wetland, Riparian, Low gradient, Shallow water, Bay/sound, River mouth/tidal river, Lagoon, Tidal flat/shore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Great Egret. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Great Egret. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 99 cm (39 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 935 g (33.0 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Great Egret. NatureServe Explorer
  19. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 22.8 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  20. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 3. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 23 days. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 730 days (about 2.0 years). AnAge
  23. NatureServe migration category for Great Egret: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on phenology for Great Egret. NatureServe Explorer
  26. NatureServe notes on migration for Great Egret. NatureServe Explorer
  27. GBIF observation records of Great Egret in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  28. NPSpecies park lists recording Great Egret as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.