Little Egret Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) were once rare visitors to the UK, occasionally flying in from the Mediterranean region for rare visits. Back in the 19th century, their long neck feathers were smuggled across Europe for use in the millinery trade. This led to the species almost becoming extinct until laws were passed to protect them.
Nowadays they can often be spotted around coasts and estuaries of southern England and Wales and occasionally in Scotland and Ireland. In this article we’ll be taking a look at the dietary habits, the breeding habits as well as the size and weight of these fascinating members of the Heron family.
Keep reading to find out more.
Table of Contents
The Dietary Habits Of The Little Egret
Little Egrets are carnivorous birds that primarily feed on a diet of small aquatic animals. Their diet varies depending on what’s available in their habitat, but they are skilled hunters, known for their wide range of foraging techniques.
What Does A Little Egret Eat?
The primary diet of Little Egrets consists of small fish including; minnows, gobies, and other shallow-water species. They also eat frogs and tadpoles as well as shrimps, crabs, molluscs and aquatic insects.
If other food sources are unavailable, they will also feed on small reptiles and even small mammals in some cases.
They are often seen wading in shallow waters, using their feet to stir up mud and flush out prey, or even using their wings to create shade, which attracts fish to the surface.
What To Feed A Baby Little Egret?
Parent Little Egrets feed their chicks by regurgitating partially digested food directly into their open beaks. This makes it easier for the chicks to eat and digest their food.
The diet provided to the chicks is similar to that of the adults, mostly consisting of small fish and aquatic invertebrates. As the chicks grow, the parents start to bring slightly larger prey items.
This high-protein diet is essential for the fast development of the chicks, allowing them to grow quickly and be ready to fledge within about a month.
Breeding Habits Of Little Egrets
In the UK Little Egrets typically breed from April to June, whereas in warmer climates they often begin nesting as early as March depending on local conditions. During the breeding season, Little Egrets develop long, wispy plumes on their heads, necks, and backs. These plumes are often displayed during courtship.
The male often fluffs up these plumes, raising them to seem larger and more attractive. They also perform a stretch display, where they extend their necks upward and spread their wings while standing tall. This is often accompanied by calling. Sometimes males will also shake their bodies to create a shimmering effect with their plumes which is designed to attract the female.
They also engage in aerial displays to catch the female’s attention and once a pair bond has formed, the male often presents the female with small twigs or sticks as part of the bonding ritual.
Do Little Egrets Mate For Life?
Little Egrets do not typically mate for life however, they are seasonally monogamous. Which means they form a new pair bond each breeding season.
By not committing to a single partner for life, Little Egrets can maximise their reproductive success by selecting the best available mate each season based on health, territory, and resources.
In some cases, if a pair was particularly successful in raising chicks together, they might reunite in subsequent years, especially if they return to the same nesting colony. However, this is more of an exception than the rule.
The Size & Weight Of Little Egrets
Male and female Little Egrets are very similar in size and colouration. Females tend to be slightly smaller than males, but the difference is subtle and can only really be noticed when they are side by side.
How Much Does A Little Egret Weigh?
An average adult Little Egret weighs somewhere in the region of 350 to 550 grams. The weight of Little Egrets varies according to the seasons, they will be heavier during spring and summer when food is more readily available.
How Big Is A Little Egret?
The average length of an adult Little Egret is around 55 to 65 centimetres and they boast a wingspan of around 88 to 95 centimetres.
Are Little Egrets Under Threat?
Little Egrets are currently listed as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), meaning they are not considered globally threatened. However, they still face several challenges that can impact their populations, depending on the region.
Habitat loss due to wetland destruction for urban development, agricultural use or industrial activities poses a large threat to Little Egrets as they rely on these areas for feeding and nesting. Another problem faced by Little Egrets is pollution. Chemicals, pesticides and waste can cause the waters they rely on to become lifeless.
Human disturbance through the constant presence of humans in wetland areas can disturb nesting colonies which can lead to Little Egrets abandoning their nests. Plus competition from other waterbirds for nesting sites and food can also have an impact on the population of Little Egrets.
What Eats A Little Egret?
While adult Little Egrets have relatively few natural predators due to their size and flight capability, they can still fall prey to larger birds and other animals. The more vulnerable chicks and eggs face greater risks.
Nests often get raided by Crows, Ravens, and Magpies that will take eggs and chicks, some Gull species will also take eggs and chicks from nests.
There’s also the risk of snakes in some regions, who will take both eggs and chicks. While mammals like raccoons, mongooses, weasels, stoats, foxes and even rats will also take eggs and chicks from nests.
Adult Little Egrets are under threat from birds of prey like Hawks and Eagles as well as foxes, cats and other land predators.
Where Can I See Little Egrets In The UK?
Little Egrets have become an increasingly common sight in the UK over the past few decades, particularly in southern and coastal regions. Some of the best places to spot them include;
- RSPB Minsmere (Suffolk)
- Cley Marshes (Norfolk)
- RSPB Old Hall Marshes (Essex)
- RSPB Arne (Dorset)
- WWT Slimbridge (Gloucestershire)
- Leighton Moss (Lancashire)
- The Thames Estuary (Kent and Essex)
- Poole Harbour (Dorset)
- The Exe Estuary (Devon)
- The North Norfolk Coast
- The Somerset Levels
- Pagham Harbour (West Sussex)
Little Egrets can be seen throughout the year in the UK, especially in southern regions.
SEE ALSO: Dotterel Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Frequently Asked Questions
The breeding season for Little Egrets in the UK usually begins in April and runs until June.
Yes, Little Egrets often nest in colonies, sometimes alongside other herons and waterbirds.
The feet of the Little Egret are bright yellow and they have black legs.
Little Egrets mainly eat small fish, but they also eat crustaceans, amphibians and aquatic insects.
