Also known as the Large Egret or White Egret, this bird is the largest of the white herons.

A solitary and territorial feeder, the Great Egret is a master of 'wait and watch' - a strategy of standing motionless in water for long periods of time and then slowly and deliberately stalking. While fish are their main prey, they'll also eat insects, crustaceans and amphibians.

The Egret breeds in colonies, early to late summer. The nest is usually a platform of sticks in a tree up to 15m above ground, or sometimes in a reed bed.