Little Egret
(Egretta garzetta) Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae)
dk: Silkehejre es: Garceta Común
2419 (6 photos) 2016-10-25 Villa di Borghese, Rome, Italy
Adult. Within the continent rather easy to distinguish from the other white herons with yellow feet and pale yellow gray lore area and pale basis to the lower mandible. Compared to Snowy Egret from the Americas, it will distinguish itself less, however, still think the lore area and bill will reveal it if seen well. The entire bill becomes black when breeding.
Adult bird. Unique and scarce visitor in Denmark. Sister species to Snowy Egret of the Americas. The two are very similar but generally Little has a longer bill and the skin around the lores is not strong yellow as on Snowy, and it does not continue up over the bill. This detail is difficult to see on these photos. The birds stayed for many weeks, but always seemed to keep a too large distance to allow for better photos.