Intermediate Egret - Definition and Overview

The Intermediate Egret (Egretta intermedia or Ardea intermedia) is a medium-sized heron. It is a resident breeder from east Africa across tropical southern Asia to Australia.

Intermediate Egret's breeding habitat is tropical swamps. It nests in colonies, often with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. 2-5 eggs are laid, the clutch size varying with region.

This species is, as its name implies, intermediate in size between Great Egret and the small white egrets like Cattle Egret and Little Egret. It is about 90cm tall, with a relatively shorter neck than Great Egret, and a gape line that does not extend behind the eye.

The plumage is all white. The upper legs are yellow, and the lower legs are dark. The thickish bill is yellow in non-breeding birds, red or blackish in breeding adults. Sexes are similar.

Intermediate Egret stalks its prey methodically in shallow coastal or fresh water, including flooded fields. It eats fish, crustaceans and insects.

Reference

• Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1
• Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6