Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
Scientific Name: Egretta thula
Residency: Year-round in southern and central-western Arizona; summers anywhere in the state.
Diet: Eats fish, shrimp, crabs, amphibians, snakes, and insects.
Predators: Great Horned Owl, American Crow, and gray rat snake are nest predators.
Nesting: A platform nest made of sticks and twigs is on the ground, in a tree, or shrub 5-10 ft. off the ground. Eggs: 3-5 per clutch, pale bluish green, 1 brood per year.
Nesting Records:
Notes: Can vibrate bill in water to attract fish. Nests in large colonies of thousands.
Photo: Taken at the Riparian Preserve at the Gilbert Water Ranch on November 19, 2006. More photos from CNUW's biodiversity sites are available below; click on an image to see a larger version.
Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch:
