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Little Egret Egretta garzetta
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Least Concern |
| 2009 | Least Concern |
Species attributes
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | Does not normally occur in forest |
| Land mass type | Average mass | - |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 36,600,000 | medium |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 36,600,000 | medium |
| Number of locations | - | |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | 659000-3140000 | poor | Estimated | 2008 |
| Population trend | Increasing | - | ||
| Number of subpopulations | - | - | - | |
| Largest subpopulation | - | - | - | |
| Generation length (yrs) | 6.6 | - | - | - |
| Population justification: Totals for E. g. garzetta and E. g. dimorpha from Wetlands International (2006) added together. | ||||
| Trend justification: The overall population trend is increasing, although some populations may be stable and others have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2006). | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Albania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Algeria | Native | No | |||
| Angola | Native | No | |||
| Anguilla (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Antigua and Barbuda | Native | No | |||
| Armenia | Native | No | |||
| Aruba (to Netherlands) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Australia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Austria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Azerbaijan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Bahrain | Native | No | |||
| Bangladesh | Native | No | |||
| Barbados | Native | No | |||
| Belgium | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Benin | Native | No | |||
| Bhutan | Native | No | |||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Botswana | Native | No | |||
| Brunei | Native | No | |||
| Bulgaria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Burkina Faso | Native | No | |||
| Burundi | Native | No | |||
| Cambodia | Native | No | |||
| Cameroon | Native | No | |||
| Canada | Vagrant | No | |||
| Cape Verde | Native | No | |||
| Côte d'Ivoire | Native | No | |||
| Central African Republic | Native | No | |||
| Chad | Native | No | |||
| China (mainland) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Christmas Island (to Australia) | Native | No | |||
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands (to Australia) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Congo | Native | No | |||
| Congo, The Democratic Republic of the | Native | No | |||
| Croatia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Cyprus | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Czech Republic | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Denmark | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Djibouti | Native | No | |||
| Dominica | Native | No | |||
| Egypt | Native | No | |||
| Equatorial Guinea | Native | No | |||
| Eritrea | Native | No | |||
| Ethiopia | Native | No | |||
| Finland | Vagrant | No | |||
| France | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Gabon | Native | No | |||
| Gambia | Native | No | |||
| Georgia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Germany | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Ghana | Native | No | |||
| Gibraltar (to UK) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Greece | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Guadeloupe (to France) | Native | No | |||
| Guam (to USA) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Guinea | Native | No | |||
| Guinea-Bissau | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Guyana | Vagrant | No | |||
| Hong Kong (China) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Hungary | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| India | Native | No | |||
| Indonesia | Native | No | |||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Iraq | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ireland | Native | No | |||
| Israel | Native | No | |||
| Italy | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Japan | Native | No | |||
| Jordan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kazakhstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kenya | Native | No | |||
| Kuwait | Native | No | |||
| Laos | Native | No | |||
| Latvia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Lebanon | Native | No | |||
| Lesotho | Native | No | |||
| Liberia | Native | No | |||
| Libya | Native | No | |||
| Liechtenstein | Vagrant | No | |||
| Luxembourg | Vagrant | No | |||
| Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of | Native | No | |||
| Malawi | Native | No | |||
| Malaysia | Native | No | |||
| Maldives | Vagrant | No | |||
| Mali | Native | No | |||
| Malta | Native | No | |||
| Martinique (to France) | Native | No | |||
| Mauritania | Native | No | |||
| Micronesia, Federated States of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Moldova | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Mongolia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Montenegro | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Montserrat (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Morocco | Native | No | |||
| Mozambique | Native | No | |||
| Myanmar | Native | No | |||
| Namibia | Native | No | |||
| Nepal | Native | No | |||
| Netherlands | Native | No | |||
| New Zealand | Native | No | |||
| Niger | Native | No | |||
| Nigeria | Native | No | |||
| North Korea | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Northern Mariana Islands (to USA) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Norway | Vagrant | No | |||
| Oman | Native | No | |||
| Pakistan | Native | No | |||
| Palau | Native | No | |||
| Palestinian Authority Territories | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Papua New Guinea | Native | No | |||
| Philippines | Native | No | |||
| Poland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Portugal | Native | No | |||
| Puerto Rico (to USA) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Qatar | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Romania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (European) | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Rwanda | Native | No | |||
| Saudi Arabia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| São Tomé e Príncipe | Vagrant | No | |||
| Senegal | Native | No | |||
| Serbia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Seychelles | Native | No | |||
| Sierra Leone | Native | No | |||
| Singapore | Native | No | |||
| Slovakia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Slovenia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Solomon Islands | Native | No | |||
| Somalia | Native | No | |||
| South Africa | Native | No | |||
| South Korea | Native | No | |||
| South Sudan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Spain | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Sri Lanka | Native | No | |||
| St Kitts and Nevis | Native | No | |||
| St Lucia | Native | No | |||
| St Pierre and Miquelon (to France) | Vagrant | No | |||
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Native | No | |||
| Sudan | Native | No | |||
| Suriname | Native | No | |||
| Swaziland | Native | No | |||
| Sweden | Vagrant | No | |||
| Switzerland | Native | No | |||
| Syria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Taiwan (China) | Native | No | |||
| Tanzania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Thailand | Native | No | |||
| Timor-Leste | Native | No | |||
| Togo | Native | No | |||
| Trinidad and Tobago | Native | No | |||
| Tunisia | Native | No | |||
| Turkey | Native | No | |||
| Turkmenistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Uganda | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ukraine | Native | No | Yes | ||
| United Arab Emirates | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| United Kingdom | Native | No | |||
| USA | Native | No | |||
| Uzbekistan | Native | No | |||
| Vietnam | Native | No | |||
| Western Sahara | Native | No | |||
| Yemen | Native | No | |||
| Zambia | Native | No | |||
| Zimbabwe | Native | No |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | McKinnons Salt Pond |  |
| Azerbaijan | Lake Mahmudchala | |
| Barbados | Chancery Lane Swamp | |
| Barbados | East Point Pond | |
| Barbados | Graeme Hall Swamp | |
| Botswana | Okavango Delta | |
| Bulgaria | Golia Island | |
| Bulgaria | Gorni Dabnik-Telish Reservoir | |
| Bulgaria | Ibisha Island | |
| Bulgaria | Kalimok Complex | |
| Bulgaria | Konush Reservoir | |
| Bulgaria | Mandra-Poda complex | |
| Bulgaria | Pozharevo Island | |
| Bulgaria | Srebarna | |
| Bulgaria | Vardim Island | |
| China (mainland) | Baishiyi Nature Reserve | |
| China (mainland) | Erlinggou | |
| China (mainland) | Fujiang Taigong Shan | |
| China (mainland) | Lanting Damiaowu | |
| Cyprus | Akamas Peninsula | |
| Egypt | Lake Manzala | |
| France | Anse du Fiers d'Ars en Ré | |
| France | Baie de Bourgneuf et marais breton | |
| France | Barrage d'Artix et Saligue du Gave de Pau | |
| France | Basse Vallée de la Durance | |
| France | Bassin d'Arcachon et Banc d'Arguin | |
| France | Brenne centrale | |
| France | Camargue | |
| France | Cordon lagunaire de Sète à Agde | |
| France | Domaine d'Orx | |
| France | Estuaires picards : baies de Somme et d'Authie | |
| France | Etangs Montpellierains | |
| France | Etangs Narbonnais | |
| France | Golfe du Morbihan et Etier de Penerf | |
| France | Ile d'Oléron, marais de Brouage-Saint-Agnant | |
| France | La Dombes | |
| France | Lac de Grand-Lieu | |
| France | Marais de L'Ile Vieille | |
| France | Marais entre Crau et Grand Rhône: Meyranne, Chanoine, Plan de Bourg et Salins du Caban | |
| France | Marais et estuaire de la Seudre | |
| France | Marais poitevin et baie de l'Aiguillon | |
| France | Petite Camargue fluvio-lacustre | |
| France | Petite Camargue laguno-marine | |
| France | Plaine du Forez | |
| France | Traicts et marais salants de la Presqu'île Guérandaise | |
| France | Val d'Allier : Saint-Yorre-Joze | |
| France | Val d'Allier Bourbonnais | |
| France | Val de Drôme: Les Ramières-printegarde | |
| France | Val de Saône | |
| France | Vallée de la Garonne : Boussens à Carbonne | |
| France | Vallée de la Garonne : Palayre et environs | |
| France | Vallée de la Loire: Pit majeur d'Iguerande à Décize | |
| Gambia | Bao Bolon Wetland Reserve | |
| Ghana | Keta Lagoon Ramsar Site | |
| Ghana | Songor Ramsar Site | |
| Greece | Amvrakikos gulf | |
| Greece | Axios, Loudias, and Aliakmon estuaries | |
| Greece | Divari Pilou lagoon (Gialova) | |
| Greece | Kotychi lagoon | |
| Greece | Lake Kerkini | |
| Guinea-Bissau | Arquipélago dos Bijagós | |
| Hungary | Béda–Karapancsa | |
| Hungary | Bodrogzug–Taktaköz | |
| Hungary | Flood plain of Tiszaalpár | |
| Hungary | Hortobágy and Tisza-to | |
| Hungary | Lower Tisza Valley | |
| India | Kole Wetland | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Anzali Mordab complex | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Arjan Protected Area | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Bandar Kiashar lagoon and mouth of Sefid Rud | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Dez dam | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Horeh Bamdej | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Izeh and Sheikho lakes | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Lake Kobi | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Lake Uromiyeh | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Seyed Mohalli, Zarin Kola and Larim Sara | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa | |
| Israel | Jezre'el, Harod and Bet She'an valleys | |
| Israel | Northern lower Jordan valley | |
| Israel | Zevulun valley | |
| Madagascar | Bombetoka Bay and Marovoay wetlands | |
| Madagascar | Mahajamba Bay wetlands | |
| Mali | Lac Débo - Lac Oualado Débo | |
| Mauritania | Banc d'Arguin National Park | |
| Philippines | Manila Bay | |
| Portugal | Albufeira do Caia | |
| Portugal | Lagoa Pequena | |
| Portugal | Leixão da Gaivota | |
| Portugal | Murta dam | |
| Portugal | Paul do Boquilobo | |
| Portugal | Paul do Taipal | |
| Portugal | Ponta da Piedade | |
| Portugal | Sado estuary | |
| Portugal | Tejo estuary | |
| Romania | Balta Mică a Brăilei | |
| Romania | Balta Vederoasa | |
| Romania | Blahniţa | |
| Romania | Braţul Borcea | |
| Romania | Calafat - Ciuperceni - Dunăre | |
| Romania | Comana | |
| Romania | Danube Delta | |
| Romania | Dunăre - Ostroave | |
| Romania | Dunărea Veche (Braţul Măcin) | |
| Romania | Gruia - Gârla Mare | |
| Romania | Suhaia | |
| Russia (European) | Delta of the River Don | |
| Russia (European) | Islands in the western part of Lake Manych-Gudilo | |
| Russia (European) | Varnavinsko-Kryukovskaya irrigation system | |
| Russia (European) | Veselovskoye reservoir | |
| Saudi Arabia | Al-Ha'ir | |
| Seychelles | Aldabra atoll | |
| Slovakia | Senné | |
| Slovenia | River Drava | |
| Slovenia | Sečovlje saltpans | |
| Slovenia | Strunjan saltpans | |
| Slovenia | Škocjan Bay | |
| Spain | Albufera de Mallorca and Albufereta de Pollença marshes | |
| Spain | Albufera de Valencia marshes | |
| Spain | Azután reservoir | |
| Spain | Bornos reservoir | |
| Spain | Castronuño-Zamora | |
| Spain | Cádiz bay | |
| Spain | Ebro delta | |
| Spain | Isla Cristina and Ayamonte marshes and Prado lagoon | |
| Spain | Las Cañas lake | |
| Spain | Malpica island (River Tagus) | |
| Spain | Mérida-Montijo reservoir | |
| Spain | Medas islands | |
| Spain | Medina-Sidonia | |
| Spain | Odiel and Tinto marshes and Huelva coastal lagoons | |
| Spain | Pela mountain range-Orellana reservoir-Zorita | |
| Spain | River Ebro ox-bow lakes | |
| Spain | Rivers Cinca and Alcanadre riverine forest | |
| Tanzania | Dar es Salaam coast | |
| Tanzania | Lake Victoria: Bunda Bay | |
| Tanzania | Lake Victoria: Mwanza Gulf | |
| Tanzania | Mafia Island | |
| Tanzania | Rubondo Island National Park | |
| Tanzania | Wembere steppe | |
| Turkey | Gediz Delta | |
| Turkey | Kızılırmak Delta | |
| Turkey | Meriç Delta | |
| Uganda | Musambwa islands | |
| Ukraine | Budats'kyj lyman | |
| Ukraine | Karkinits'ka and Dzharylgats'ka bays | |
| Ukraine | Syvash Bay | |
| Ukraine | Yagorlyts'ka and Tendrivs'ka Bays | |
| Zambia | Bangweulu Swamps | |
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Aquatic & Marine | Canals and Drainage Channels, Ditches | suitable | resident |
| Artificial/Aquatic & Marine | Ponds (below 8ha) | suitable | resident |
| Artificial/Aquatic & Marine | Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land | suitable | resident |
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Vegetation Above High Tide Level | suitable | breeding |
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Vegetation Above High Tide Level | suitable | non-breeding |
| Grassland | Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded | major | non-breeding |
| Grassland | Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded | major | breeding |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes | suitable | resident |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Freshwater Lakes | suitable | resident |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands | suitable | resident |
| Marine Intertidal | Mud Flats and Salt Flats | suitable | resident |
| Marine Intertidal | Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc | suitable | resident |
| Marine Intertidal | Shingle and/or Pebble Shoreline and/or Beaches | suitable | resident |
| Marine Intertidal | Tidepools | suitable | resident |
| Marine Neritic | Estuaries | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Estuaries | major | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | major | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | major | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) | major | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) | major | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes | suitable | resident |
| Wetlands (inland) | Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | suitable | resident |
| Wetlands (inland) | Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) | suitable | resident |
| Wetlands (inland) | Seasonal/Intermittent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes and Flats | suitable | resident |
| Altitude | 0 - 2000 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Egretta garzetta. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
| Family | Ardeidae (Herons and egrets) |
| Species name author | (Linnaeus, 1766) |
| Population size | 659000-3140000 mature individuals |
| Population trend | Increasing |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 36,600,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
| - Summary information on this species | |
|
|