Herons and egrets are easily confused, as they both are long-legged wetland birds often spotted around rivers and lakes of the UK – but what is the difference between the two? With three species of egret now breeding in the UK and herons thriving in both urban and rural areas, these fascinating birds are easier to spot than ever.
Here, we explain what the difference is (spoiler: they're more similar than you might think) between the two birds, and how and where you can spot them around the UK.
What is a heron?
The term 'heron' can be used to describe any member of the family of Ardeidae, a group of long-legged, long-necked birds typically found around areas of water, says says Carys McMillan from the Wildlife Trusts.
This includes birds including egrets and bitterns, as well as the birds we refer to as herons – which are the grey herons, Ardea cinerea.
So essentially, this means that an egret is a type of heron, as it is part of the Ardeidae group.
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What is an egret?
Egrets are a type of heron with bright white feathers. They share the same biology as herons, but phsyically have several distinctions. The word 'egret' comes from the French word 'aigrette', meaning 'silver heron' and 'brush', referring to its long feathers.
How to tell the difference between an egret and a heron
The main difference between an egret and a heron is its colour. What we refer to as a heron is actually the grey heron, so is grey in colour (no surprise there), whereas an egret is bright white.
A grey heron is paler underneath, with a long grey or white neck, with a grey back. Its head is white, with black markings on either side. Its beak turns from a greyish-yellow to more of a bright orange in the spring season.
There are also different types of egrets – many of which you can now see in the UK, despite them being initially quite rare here. The little egret arrived on UK shores first, followed by the cattle and great white egrets.
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How to identify different types of egret
Great white egret (Ardea alba)
The clue's in the name: the great white egret is big... and white. It's about the same size as a grey heron, but slimmer and more elegant in stature. The beak is brighter in colour to that of the grey heron, and often is seen in a bright yellow – although it can turn black during breeding season. The lower legs and feet are dark, but the upper legs are paler in colour.
Little egret (Egretta garzetta)
The little egret is also white in colour, but is about half the size of a grey heron. Its beak is dark in colour and the legs are dull green or black. Its neck can become compressed when it's not hunting and almost disappears from sight. The little egret's feet are where you can spot a major difference: they're yellow.
Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis)
The cattle egret is the smallest of the egrets, with a shorter neck and legs. It looks stockier in stature to the others, with a shorter, stubbier beak as well. The beak is usually yellow, but it turns pink during the breeding season. It also has white feathers, but has an ochre or orange colour on its crown, breast and back during breeding season and sometimes beyond.
Where to see egrets and herons in the UK
Grey herons can be found throughout much of the British Isles, usually not far from water. They'll usually be found by inland rivers, lakes and flooded wetlands, but have also been known to hunt in rockpools on the coast. We included the heron in our round-up of the best urban wildlife to see around the UK, because they often look for food in city parks or urban waterways.
Great white egrets and little egrets are often found in similar areas to grey herons, as they enjoy similar wetland habitats. Little egrets are often found near estuaries. You can ofen see great egrets at Ham Wall in Somerset.
Cattle egrets, however, are usually found away from water – instead, they spend time in fields with farm animals.
Egrets and herons nest in colonies, and you'll often see different species nesting alongside one another. There can be up to 30 nests in locations that are used year on year. Look out for heron colonies as part of your annual March wildlife spotting.
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Top image: A Grey Heron in flight at Lodmoor Nature Reserve in Weymouth, UK (credit: Getty Images)
