An egret is a type of wading bird, closely related to herons, usually with long legs, a long neck, and often white plumage. Many egrets also grow elegant plumes during the breeding season.

Quick Scoop

Egrets live in wetlands, marshes, lakes, and coastal areas, where they hunt fish, amphibians, insects, and other small animals in shallow water.

A familiar example is the great egret, which is a tall white bird often seen standing still before striking quickly at prey.

In simple terms

  • What it is: a wading bird in the heron family.
  • What it looks like: long legs, long neck, sharp bill, usually white feathers.
  • What it eats: fish, frogs, reptiles, insects, and crustaceans.
  • Where it lives: wetlands and other shallow-water habitats.

Tiny example

If you see a tall white bird standing in a marsh and then spearing a fish with its bill, that is very likely an egret.

TL;DR: An egret is a graceful white wading bird in the heron family that hunts in shallow water.