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Intermediate Egret

Mesophoyx intermedia

Published on Project Noah
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15.5611, 73.7614

Field Notes

Description:

Size of Great Egret but shorter neck though not as short as Cattle Egret. Legs very dark, almost black, and longer than cattle Egret. Non-breeding birds have a yellow bill and lores but this changes during breeding to a black tip or even all black with grey lores.

Habitat:

Grassy field close to lake.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (7)
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
I'm not an expert either, I look at photographs and study the books I have and still have problems - and in India for example, there are 6 different Egrets, all of which can have totally white forms. The Western Reef Egret has a dark grey morph and a white morph with dark legs, yellow feet and head, neck and tail plumes, so looks similar to snowy (which does not appear in India). The Pacific Reef Egret (white morph) is similar but no tail plumes and all yellow legs.
HemaShah
It can get quite confusing differentiating based on lores!! Best to stick to color of feet and legs and beak . Better still ask an expert , like you!
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
I've filled out the description now, your answer should be there. Lores are the patch of skin between eye and bill.
HemaShah
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7882700/edit
HemaShah
For a snowy egret ,there is a yellow line between beak and eye. For little egret a grey one.For this intermediate egret,what does it seem like?
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
I'm still having problems trying to load pictures but there is a second one up now.
HemaShah
I think I can see a grey line between beak and eye?

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
2011 Best Wildlife Photo
Mission
Birds of Western Ghats
Photographed
PublishedDecember 5, 2011

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