The Story
This is a juvenile Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) that I photographed near the Mai Po Marshes in Hong Kong’s northwest New Territories on March 22, 2018. In warmer places most birds are permanent residents, while northern populations migrate south for the winter. In the 19th century it was hunted heavily in Western Europe for its plumes. It feeds in shallow water and on land, taking a variety of small creatures. IUCN lists the species as Least Concern. The reserve supports globally important numbers of wetland birds, which arrive in winter and during spring and autumn migration.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW, at 1/1000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 100, −1 EV. WWF’s work at Mai Po, including education and bird monitoring with public help, keeps this wetland open to people and safe for birds.
©2018 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) 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