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Yellow-billed Egret | Egretta intermedia
The Yellow-billed Egret is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Ardeidae bird family group which includes birds such as Egrets, Herons, Bitterns. The description for the Yellow-billed Egret (Latin name Egretta intermedia) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Egretta intermedia can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 68 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 584. You will find a picture of the Yellow-billed Egret on page 592. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Yellow-billed Egret between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition The Yellow-billed Egret is known in Afrikaans as Geelbekwitreier. The Yellow-billed Egret has a height of 69 cms and weighs around 460 gms. The head is coloured white while the bill is coloured grey. The Egretta intermedia has a white coloured throat, grey legs and a white coloured back. The eyes are yellow. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is white Eyes are yellow Bill is grey Legs are grey Throat is white Back is white This bird has long legs ? ie legs the length of which are out of proportion to the bird's body size. This can be a useful identification guide (eg with the Lapwings). Feeding Habits ...This bird forages for food on the ground This bird has a specially adapted bill which helps it hunt for fish, crabs, shrimp and other aquatic animals in the water. This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten . Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...The Yellow-billed Egret is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 2 to 3 eggs and they are coloured blue. The bird builds its nest on the ground with figs, straw and leaves. The nest is placed under a bush to protect the young from predators. The Yellow-billed Egret is found in the Southern African wetlands, riverine forests and moist grasslands. Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...The Yellow-billed Egret is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild. |
