Fulmar
Well-known member
Is it possible to distinguish between the Intermediate Egret Egretta (or Mesophoyx) intermedia and the Great Egret Ardea alba on photos when you don't have a clue on size?
Charles Harper (thanks!) gave a good description in the Bird Database:
Can somebody direct me to the finer details here?
Thanks,
Peter
Charles Harper (thanks!) gave a good description in the Bird Database:
However, even with this description, I still have trouble to distinguish between the Intermediate Egret photos in the Gallery (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?si=Intermediate+Egret) and the Great Egret (e.g. http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/24320).In distinguishing this species from Great Egret, notice particularly how Intermediate`s gape stops at the rear of the eye, while Great`s extends farther back, and how the feathered chin of Intermediate extends farther forward along the gonys. The shorter bill also gives Intermediate`s head a more triangular look than the attenuated snake-like head of Great Egret. Legs evidently occur in a range of shades from black to dark yellow.
Can somebody direct me to the finer details here?
Thanks,
Peter