TPWD
Reddish Egret
Reddish Egrets are known for their dramatic, dance-like hunting style. They chase fish through shallow water with wings spread wide, spinning, leaping, and darting around.
Reddish Egrets often nest in colonies with other wading birds, typically on islands to avoid predators. Their nests are built from sticks and placed in low trees or shrubs.
Reddish Egrets are a coastal specialist. They are listed as "threatened" in Texas, and face a range of threats linked to their restricted range, specialized coastal habitat, and their low global population.
You can view a map of their range at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. In the U.S., Reddish Egrets are found along the Gulf Coast of Texas and some parts of Louisiana and southern Florida.
Threats to Reddish Egrets include, but are not limited to, habitat loss and degradation via development which can lead to destruction of nesting and foraging areas, in addition to increased disturbances during breeding and nesting. Pesticide runoff, and intrusion of habitat by recreationists, are also risks to Reddish Egrets. Although not a current threat, Reddish Egrets were nearly wiped out in the late 1800s due to the feather trade, when their long plumes were highly valued for fashion.
Ongoing conservation efforts in Texas include the protection of coastal bird islands and sanctuaries, habitat restoration, shoreline protection projects, and public engagement.
Green Island, a colonial nesting bird island leased by Audubon in South Texas, is home to the world's largest Reddish Egret nesting colony. Read more about Green Island, HERE.
Learn more about the Reddish Egret's natural history at TPWD.
Continue reading for a few ways you can help coastal birds, including the Reddish Egret...
Take action for coastal birds
1. Protect rookeries & colonial bird nesting areas
More than half of the 25 species of colonial nesting waterbirds in Texas are experiencing major population declines. Colonial waterbirds are particularly vulnerable to threats during their nesting season, typically from late February through August in Texas.
You can help nesting colonial waterbirds. Here's how:
- Pay attention to bird nesting signs and barriers, and avoid disturbing bird rookeries (nesting areas) from late February through August. To minimize disturbance to nesting birds and chicks, it is recommended people fish, swim and play at least 50 yards from rookery islands (which can appear as small as sandbars).
- If boating, jet skiing, or kayaking, also keep a safe distance from coastal islands, sandbars, and mangroves where Reddish Egrets and other coastal birds nest.
- Leash dogs on beaches near nesting grounds to prevent accidental nest disturbance.
Reddish Egrets and many other coastal birds gather together to nest in "rookeries". To avoid disturbance to nests and chicks, it's important to avoid bird nesting islands and other bird nesting rookeries. ©Rachel Rommel
Remember to "Fish, Swim, or Play from at least 50 Yards Away!"
2. Keep coastal areas clean & properly dispose of fishing line
Reddish Egret adults and chicks, and other shorebirds, can become entangled in, and ingest, litter. This can be deadly.
- Pick up litter and properly dispose of monofilament fishing line, plastic, and other debris that can entangle birds and pollute their habitat.
- Participate in beach cleanups with organizations such as Houston Audubon, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, and SPLASh! to help keep Texas beaches clean and litter free for coastal birds and wildlife.
If not properly disposed or recycled, monofilament fishing line can entangle coastal birds and wildlife. Learn about the Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program and view an interactive map HERE. ©TMN-GBAC Facebook
3. Texas landowners can protect and restore coastal habitat
Reddish Egrets forage around salt flats and lagoons. Learn more about their habitat and life history HERE.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, "They can occasionally be found at freshwater ponds, but most of their foraging is in tidal environments, especially at small depressions in inlets and passes (called “cat’s-eye ponds”), reefs and banks along barrier islands and cays, mangrove flats, lagoon systems, and saltmarshes.
In Texas, where storms may wash saltwater into ponds (“overwash deltas”) on barrier islands, Reddish Egrets often hunt fish trapped in these temporary wetlands."
Texas landowners can play a significant role in helping the Reddish Egret, and other coastal birds:
- Preserve wetlands, tidal flats, and salt marshes, which are crucial for foraging and nesting.
- Avoid altering coastal dunes and shallow lagoons which provide shelter and feeding areas.
- Limit access to nesting areas during the breeding season (typically February to August).
- Keep visitors, pets, and vehicles away from nests.
- Prevent runoff of fertilizers, pesticides, and chemicals into coastal waters.
Colonial bird nesting island ©Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Reddish Egret White Morph ©lwolfartist, CC BY 2.0
According to Cornell Lab of Orinthology, "Adult Reddish Egrets have two color morphs, a rare all-white morph and a darker bluish and reddish morph. When pairing up, males and females don't seem to pay attention to which morph their mate is. A single nest can have chicks of both color morphs in it."
Reddish Egret and coastal bird resources:
- Saving Gulf Coast Birds guide from American Bird Conservancy HERE.
- Texas Monofilament Recovery and Recycling program information and interactive map HERE.
- Download the Don't let your line turn into litter - Recycle It! brochure HERE.
- SPLASh Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines clean up Events HERE.
- Find your wildlife biologist by county to help with habitat restoration and management HERE.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology Reddish Egret species overview & map HERE.
-View iNaturalist Reddish Egret Sightings HERE.