Great Egret

Egretta alba (Ardea alba)

The Great Egret is a large (80-104 cm), white egret with a long S-shaped neck, a yellow bill, yellow iris and black legs.  The bare facial skin at the gape extends slightly behind the eye, whereas in the similar but smaller Intermediate Egret, it terminates below the eye.

The Great Egret is found in all kinds of wetlands, both inland and along the coast, including estuarine marshes, coastal mudflats, lake shores, rivers, rice fields and drainage ditches.  It feeds on fish, amphibians, snakes, aquatic insects and crustaceans.  On land it will also take lizards, small birds and mammals.  It hunts by quietly standing and watching for movement, or by slowly walking.  Although it nests colonially, it is mainly solitary outside the breeding season and will defend a feeding territory; however, it may be found in large groups where the food is abundant.

In Taiwan the Great Egret is a common winter resident.

References:  Handbook of Birds of the World Vol. 1; A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Mackinnon and Phillipps); 100 Common Birds of Taiwan (Wild Bird Society of Taipei)