Intermediate Egret

A Recent visit to the Sale Common was rewarded with some views of several Intermediate Egrets.

Intermediate Egret 1

 

As the name suggests, the size of the Intermediate Egret is between the Great Egret and the Little Egret. The Little Egret has a black bill and is uncommon to rare here. The gape-line of a Great Egret extends beyond the eye.

 

Left: Intermediate Egret   Right: Great Egret

The Intermediate Egret is a listed threatened species in Victoria.

 

Intermediate Egret 2

Intermediate Egrets generally prefer freshwater wetlands where they prey on small fish, frogs, crustaceans and insects.

 

The filament plumes are only evident when breeding. Sometimes they are spectacular and give rise to the alternative common name of Plumed Egret.