The Story
This Great Egret (Ardea alba) was at La Charca de Guarinocito in La Dorada, Caldas, Colombia when I photographed it. In breeding plumage it carries delicate ornamental feathers on its back. It is not usually a vocal bird, but it gives a low, hoarse croak when disturbed. It weighs around 1,000 grams on average. Apart from its size, its yellow bill and black legs and feet set it apart from other white egrets. The Charca de Guarinocito is an old channel of the Magdalena in La Dorada, protected since 1988 and now delimited by Corpocaldas at 167 hectares. IUCN lists the Great Egret as Least Concern, with a stable population.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400. In 2025 Corpocaldas zoned the charca for preservation, restoration and sustainable use, recognizing its role in community tourism and artisanal fishing.
©2021 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Great Egret (Ardea alba) belongs to the family Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2025), with the population trend listed as stable. Source: IUCN Red List
