Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea, which also contain other species named as herons rather than egrets. The distinction between a heron and an egret is rather vague, and depends more on appearance than biology. The word egret comes from the French word aigrette that means both silver heron and brush, referring to the long, filamentous feathers that seem to cascade down an egret's back during the breeding season (also called egrets).
CATEGORIES
Sharing is not just caring, it's also about giving credit - add this image to your page and give credit to the talented photographer who captured it.:
KEYWORDS
aigrette also animal appearance ardea are back beak between biology bird both breeding brush called cascade comes contain depends distinction down duck ducks during egret egret's egrets egretta feathers filamentous french from genera gull heron herons lake long means members more named nature other rather referring reflection seabird season seem shorebird silver species swan than that vague water waterbird waterfowl wetland which wildlife wing word zoo
More images on Dreamstime
Similar Images
More images by the same author
1 week free trial. Any size, for free
Renews at $25/month, cancel or upgrade at any time
Click here for your free trial!
242,166,415 images | 1,218,491 contributors | 53,445,222 total users