USA- Juvenile white egret/heron - May 3, 2021 South Padre Nature Center, Texas (1 Viewer)

[lvcuer]

I'm baffled by the dark lores. Medium sized bird (too small for Great Egret).

 

[nartreb]

I'll plump for a white-morph Reddish Egret. Juveniles have dark bills. Look closely at the bill here and you'll notice a change of tone in the middle, with just a hint of pinkishness emerging.

 

[KC Foggin]

I believe we are looking at a Snowy Egret.

 

[nartreb]

No, Snowy would have bright-yellow lores (skin ahead of the eyes)

 

[lgonz1008]

That's 100% a white-morph Reddish Egret, the lack of yellow in the head and fully black legs are the giveaway. You can compare in the photos below:

• Reddish Egret
• Snowy Egret

 

[lvcuer]

Thanks for the info - there was an adult white-morph Reddish Egret at the same location, but it never crossed my mind that this could be junior.

 

[Microtus]

I'll plump for a white-morph Reddish Egret. Juveniles have dark bills. Look closely at the bill here and you'll notice a change of tone in the middle, with just a hint of pinkishness emerging.

I agree, it's a Reddish Egret.

 

[jmepler]

Feeding behavior is often a big clue. Snowy Egrets are active feeders, but not nearly as active as Reddish Egrets.