Great Egret

Great Egrets are all at once calm, elegant, and intense. I mean, look at that gaze. This Great Egret was standing still, focused on (presumably) its next meal. 

You can see the curved shape to this Great Egret's neck in the photo. They do not extend their necks as they fly, which is one factor that can help you identify them.^[1]

Also interesting is that the Great Egret is part of the logo of the National Audubon Society. Audubon explains that this is because of their conservation success story: Great Egret populations in the US were decimated in the 1800s for their feathers, but conservation efforts helped them rebound.^[2]

The Details:

Common Name: Great Egret
Scientific Name: Ardea alba
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae

Seen: In vegetation near the water
Month: May

Learn More About Great Egrets:

1. Everglades National Park. (2021, June 4). Great Egret: Species profile. National Park Service. 
2. Audubon. (n.d.). Great Egret. [Note: The webpage says the bird guide text was adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996]