Diet
What do great egrets eat?
Fish, frogs and small mammals speared in shallows.
Herons and egrets (Ardeidae)Great EgretArdea alba
Spring and summer diet
- Fish, frogs, crayfish and voles
Fall and winter diet
- Fish in ice-free water
Best feeder foods
- None — visits ponds with fish
Stalks pond margins and wet lawns; net ornamental fish ponds if one takes an interest.
Where great egrets need winter food
Regions where great egrets are present in the cold months:
Frequently asked
What do great egrets eat?
Fish, frogs and small mammals speared in shallows.
What is the best food to feed great egrets?
None — visits ponds with fish.
What do great egrets eat in winter?
Fish in ice-free water.
Sources
- Great Egret — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Great Egret life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Great Egret — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.