Egrets
 
Physical description
- Sexes similar
- Fairly small
- Short, thick pointed bill
- White body plumage
- Tucks neck in close to body in flight and often at rest, rarely extending it
- Often seen feeding in pastures or other open habitats away from water
Adult alternate
- Only very briefly attains full alternate plumage
- Deep red bill
- Deep red legs
- Buffy feathering around the head, neck and back
Adult basic
- Bill dull orange or yellow
- Legs dull orange
- Entirely white body plumage
Immature
- Black bill turns pale yellow by early fall
- Dusky legs
Habitat
Open fields and pastures, lawns, roadsides, orchards, freshwater marshes, saltwater marshes.
Diet
Mostly large insects such as grasshoppers, flies, and crickets; also spiders, frogs, snakes.
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