The Snowy Egret is a dainty, all-white heron famous for its "golden slippers" — bright yellow feet at the end of black legs, a feature that instantly separates it from the larger, yellow-billed Great Egret. Delicate and elegant, with a slim black bill and a spray of lacy plumes in breeding season, it is an active, animated hunter, dashing through the shallows, shuffling its yellow feet to stir up prey, and even flying low with dangling legs to flush fish before dropping to snatch them.
A southern wading bird, the Snowy Egret occurs in Michigan only as a rare visitor, appearing mostly in the warmer months, especially during the post-breeding dispersal of late summer when young birds wander widely from southern colonies. When one turns up on a marsh, lakeshore, or flooded field, its small size, black bill, black legs, and glowing yellow feet make it a distinctive and exciting find. Like the Great Egret, it was heavily hunted for its plumes in the 1800s before protection allowed its recovery.
An active hunter of shallow water, taking fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects, and frogs by dashing about, shuffling its bright feet to stir up prey, and flushing fish with low flights. Its energetic foraging contrasts with the patient stand-and-wait style of larger herons.
The Snowy Egret is much smaller with a slim black bill, black legs, and bright yellow feet (the "golden slippers"). The Great Egret is large with a yellow bill and entirely black legs and feet.
The Snowy Egret stirs the shallows with its bright yellow feet to flush out fish and other prey, then quickly snatches them. This active foraging is characteristic of the species.
Only as a rare visitor, mostly in the warmer months and especially during late-summer post-breeding dispersal, when young birds wander north from southern colonies. Any Snowy Egret in the state is a notable sighting.
Immatures show a yellow-green stripe up the back of otherwise dark legs and lack the wispy head and back plumes. The black bill and yellow feet hold at all ages, which is the key to separating them from young Little Blue Herons.
A rookery when nesting, and simply a flock when feeding. Snowy Egrets are colonial nesters, though in Michigan they occur mainly as scattered wandering individuals.
Other birds you might be looking at instead.
Pick the park — it takes less than ten seconds.
Start typing the bird's name, then pick it from the list.
Suggest a birding spot to add to the map. I'll review it before it appears.
Thanks! Your suggestion has been sent for review.
Found something wrong or out of date? Tell me what to fix — it goes straight to my inbox. (No email needed.)
Thank you — your note is on its way. I appreciate the help keeping this accurate.