Snowy Egret

Egretta thula 

Domain-Eukarya

Kingdom-Animalia

Phylum-Chordata

Class-Aves

Order-Ciconiiformes 

Family-Ardeidae

Genus-Egretta

Species-thula 

Habitat- Salt-marsh pools, tidal channels, shallow bays and mangroves.

The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) has bilateral symmetry. It's a medium sized bird with orange around its eyes and on its legs and feet with white feathers. They are most active at dawn and dusk and have flying capabilities but do not swim. Males protect the nesting territories.Snowy Egrets will hover and then drop to the water to catch prey in their bills.They will use one foot to stir up the bottom, flushing prey into view.It uses its long beak for catching prey and uses its long legs to get its prey to come towards it.The  Snowy Egret is a highly social bird that engages in group foraging with other species. Populations seem to be declining along the Atlantic coast due to pollution and competition with other bird species. Predators are raccoons, great Horned Owls, Barred Owl, American Crows, American Alligators, Grey Rat Snake, and Black Hawk. Its prey are amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects, mollusks, and terrestrial worms. The Snowy Egret is heterotrophic and endothermic.