Snowy Egret

Egretta thula

Rangewide Distribution: Sections of southern United States & Gulf Coast states
Abundance: Common
Breeding Habitat: Swamps, lowland forests & marshes with emergent vegetation
Nest: Flat, flimsy, of sticks lined with fine sticks & rushes, on shrubs or occasionally on ground
Eggs: 3-5 light bluish-green
Incubation: 20-24 days
Fledging: 30 days
image of snowy egretSnowy Egrets are colonial nesters, usually nesting in association with other egret and heron species. This is one of the most beautiful species of the heron family when in full display, with plumes spreading from the body off the head, neck and back. Plume hunters sought this species more than other herons for its exquisite, soft, white nuptial feathers. During early 20th century raids on heron nesting colonies, Snowy Egrets suffered greater losses than other herons, because they were less secretive and more numerous (Terres 1987). Snowy Egrets are currently listed as Endangered in Missouri. 0400061.gif

Code Frequency

Only possible records were obtained for this species of which only one was in appropriate habitat. A sight record from McDonald County probably represents an individual from a nearby colony in Kansas.

Distribution

Except for the block in McDonald County, all locations were near known colony sites which were not in Atlas Blocks. Observations independent of the Atlas Project indicated Snowy Egrets bred at four different colonies during the term of the Atlas Project. All colonies were in the Mississippi Lowlands, with two near Sikeston in Scott County and the others near Charleston in Mississippi County and Caruthersville in Pemiscot County.

Abundance

Based on colony counts independent of the Atlas Project, 6-8 active nests were present at the Pemiscot County site and 10-30 active nests were present at the Mississippi County site in 1992. Fewer nests were at the Scott County sites, which was abandoned by 1987.

Phenology

Breeding in southeastern Missouri commences in May and continues into June (Robbins and Easterla 1992). Post-breeding wanderers begin to arrive in the state in July and continue to increase until late August and early September (Robbins and Easterla 1992).

Breeding Evidence

Reported in 1 (<1%) of 1,207 blocks

image of pie chartimage of Missouri map

Home|Lists of Illustrations and Tables|Preface|Acknowledgments|Introduction|The Natural Divisions of Missouri|Guide to Species Accounts|Index of Bird Accounts|Appendix A.|Appendix B.|Appendix C.|Appendix D.|Appendix E.|Literature Cited

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