Plumed Egret
Ardea plumifera
NativeStatus
CommonRarity
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Species Description
The Plumed Egret is a medium-sized waterbird native to Australia, known for its elegant white plumage and seasonal transformations. It bridges the size gap between smaller egrets and the larger Great Egret, making it a fascinating species to observe in Australia’s wetlands.
Fun Facts
Plumed Egrets sometimes hover briefly like terns before diving to catch fish.
1. Long ornamental plumes on back and breast during breeding.
2. Seasonal bill colour change: yellow-orange (non-breeding) to red with yellow tip (breeding).
3. Slender white body with dark legs year-round.
Plumed Egrets are found across northern and eastern Australia, favouring freshwater wetlands with dense vegetation. They frequent billabongs, floodplains, swamps, and wet meadows, often hunting at the edges of wetlands where vegetation meets open water. They are most active at dawn and dusk and are known to gather in large groups during dry periods at permanent waterholes.
Physical Attributes
Height
64 cm
Size Relative to Other Birds94%
Top Locations
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Top birding locations will be available in a future update.