- Egretta eulophotes
Identification
68 cm
White, full crest, yellow bill
Breeding adult
- Blue facial skin
- Short nape plumes
- Long back and breast plumes
- Long black legs
- Greenish-yellow feet
Non-breeding adult shows largely yellow base to lower mandible and yellow along cutting edge of upper mandible.
Distribution
Very rare and little-known.
Breeding range is unclear: colonies in southern China, possibly elsewhere in China, in North Korea around Taegam Island and perhaps on the coast of the Russian Far East.
Migratory but extent of movements little-known. Recorded in South Korea, southern Japan and the Ryukyu Islands, Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore and Borneo.
Vagrant recorded on Christmas Island. Also accidental vagrant to Agattu Island, Alaska.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Tidal estuaries and mudflats.
Behaviour
Breeding
It breeds on offshore islands on cliffs, in trees and low bushes and flies to mainland mudflats to feed. It builds a disc shaped best from straw and plants. The clutch of 3-5 eggs is incubated by the female for 24-30 days. The female cares for the young.
Diet
The diet includes invertebrates, crabs, shrimp and fish.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- BirdLife International
- ARKive
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Chinese Egret. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 16 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Chinese_Egret
External Links
