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Reddish Egret
Egretta rufescens
Family: ARDEIDAE
Order: Ciconiiformes
Spanish Common Name: Garza rojiza, Garza melenuda, Garza piquirrosa
French Common Name: Aigrette roussātre
Image by James Leupold, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
Courtesy Kenn Kaufman |
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Conservation Status
Global Population: 67,500
Continental Population: 12,000
Watchlist Status: 
Audubon State of the Birds Status: moderate population declines and very small population size
An inhabitant of the saltwater marshes and lagoons skirting the Gulf of Mexico, the Reddish Egret is the rarest and least well-known of the North American herons. Unlike slower-moving hunters in its family, this egret is notable for its spirited foraging techniques.
Range & Distribution
The Reddish Egret is a coastal species with a limited range. Seldom found inland, it breeds along the Gulf Coast of Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama, and around both coasts of Florida. It is also seen in southern California, Mexico, Belize, Cuba, the Bahamas, and other Caribbean islands.
A legend for the range map to the right can be found here.
Population Status & Trends
At the turn of the 20th century, Reddish Egrets were nearly extirpated from the United States by plume hunters. In Florida, none were seen between 1927 and 1937. Overall, their numbers have been gradually rising since enactment of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which protected the species from hunting. Most Reddish Egrets are now located in Texas. Florida's population stands at perhaps ten percent of what it was before 1880, when exploitation began to take its toll.
Conservation Issues & Efforts
Although the Reddish Egret population in the United States has been slowly increasing, the birds have not completely recovered from the decimation of a century ago. Because they depend exclusively on coastal habitats, which are at risk from development and environmental degradation, they remain vulnerable. In the West Indies, they are subjected to subsistence hunting and egging.
What You Can Do
For actions you can take, including Audubon activities, please visit our resources page.
For More Information
References
Lowther, P. E., and R. T. Paul. 2002. Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens). In The Birds of North America, No. 633 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
Kaufman, Kenn. Lives of North American Birds, Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, 1996.
Sibley, David Allen. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2000.
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