Egretta gularis schistacea

(Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1828)

Vernacular names
English : Western reef-egret
French : Aigrette à gorge blanche

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Pelecaniformes
Family : Ardeidae
Notes : 1 other subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach a length of 65 cm for a weight up to 710 g and a wingspan of 104 cm. Slate gray to bluish-gray plumage with white throat, black legs and yellow feet. Entirely white morph exists too. This subspecies has a larger bill.

Range and habitat
This subspecies occurs around East African coasts, eastwards to Red Sea, India and Sri Lanka. Species also found around west African coast. Mostly found on sandy or rocky shores and reefs, mangroves and estuaries.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is common in the wild and most populations remain stable. This subspecies is probably the most numerous in the wild.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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