Ardea alba
Identification suggestions (from the community or from AI) and the information here may be wrong; this app never confirms that anything is safe to eat. Do not consume wild plants, mushrooms or seafood without expert confirmation. Nothing here is medical advice.
Like the grey heron, an injured bird will uncoil its neck and stab at the face, so handling it risks eye injury. Cover it with a cloth and call wildlife authorities.
Ask an adult
Bill usually yellow, and legs and FEET entirely black, which is the mark that separates it from the yellow-footed little egret
The gape line extends behind the eye, whereas in little egret it ends below the eye
As big as a grey heron and nearly twice the bulk of a little egret
The very long neck kinks at a sharp angle; there is no nape crest, only long back plumes in the breeding season
In breeding condition the bill turns black and the bare face skin greenish-blue, so foot colour becomes the only reliable separation
Usually silent, giving a short harsh krrak when disturbed
