great white heron ? (1 Viewer)

cal

Member

• Apr 28, 2004

• #1

Is this a great white heron? Taken in S.E. Michigan USA....
Thanks, Cal

 

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tomjenner

Well-known member

• Apr 28, 2004

• #2

Hi Cal
Yes it is, or rather a Great White Egret. I think in North America they are usually just called Great Egrets though.
Tom

 

crispycreme

Well-known member

• Apr 28, 2004

• #3

Actually, since we have a bird called "Great White Heron" (the white morph of the Great Blue Heron, often written in quotation marks) in North America, we should be specific here. The bird in the picture is most definitely a Great Egret (Areda alba), not a "Great White Heron" (Ardea herodias). The giveaway is the leg color. Areda herodias has pale legs.

 

Last edited: Apr 28, 2004

H

Hal

Gashawk

• Apr 28, 2004

• #4

In NA the "Great White Heron" (resident in Florida) was considered a full species. If my memory serves me correctly it was reclassifies as a "white morph" of the Great-blue Heron. They have yellow legs instead of the black of the Great Egret. The name "GWH" is still used by some, although everyone should be calling it a "GBH morph".