Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Snowy Egret (Egreta thula)

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

About Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Kingdom: Animals
Phylum: Chordates
Class: Birds
Order: Pelicans
Family: Herons

This taxon is found in the Marismas Nacionales-San Blas mangroves ecoregion contains the most extensive block of mangrove ecosystem along the Pacific coastal zone of Mexico, comprising around 2000 square kilometres. Mangroves in Nayarit are among the most productive systems of northwest Mexico. These mangroves and their associated wetlands also serve as one of the most important winter habitat for birds in the Pacific coastal zone, by serving about eighty percent of the Pacific migratory shore bird populations.

Although the mangroves grow on flat terrain, the seven rivers that feed the mangroves descend from mountains, which belong to the physiographic province of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The climate varies from temperate-dry to sub-humid in the summer, when the region receives most of its rainfall (more than 1000 millimetres /year).

Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans), Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) and White Mangrove trees (Laguncularia racemosa) occur in this ecoregion. In the northern part of the ecoregion near Teacapán the Black Mangrove tree is dominant; however, in the southern part nearer Agua Brava, White Mangrove dominates. Herbaceous vegetation is rare, but other species that can be found in association with mangrove trees are: Ciruelillo (Phyllanthus elsiae), Guiana-chestnut (Pachira aquatica), and Pond Apple (Annona glabra).

There are are a number of reptiles present, which including a important population of Morelet's Crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) and American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in the freshwater marshes associated with tropical Cohune Palm (Attalea cohune) forest. Also present in this ecoregion are reptiles such as the Green Iguana (Iguana iguana), Mexican Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum) and Yellow Bellied Slider (Trachemys a). Four species of endangered sea turtle use the coast of Nayarit for nesting sites including Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas).

A number of mammals are found in the ecoregion, including the Puma (Puma concolor), Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), Jaguar (Panthera onca), Southern Pygmy Mouse (Baiomys musculus), Saussure's Shrew (Sorex saussurei). In addition many bat taxa are found in the ecoregion, including fruit eating species such as the Pygmy Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus phaeotis); Aztec Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus aztecus) and Toltec Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus toltecus); there are also bat representatives from the genus myotis, such as the Long-legged Myotis (Myotis volans) and the Cinnamon Myotis (M. fortidens).

There are more than 252 species of birds, 40 percent of which are migratory, including 12 migratory ducks and approximately 36 endemic birds, including the Bumblebee Hummingbird, (Atthis heloisa) and the Mexican Woodnymph (Thalurania ridgwayi). Bojórquez considers the mangroves of Nayarit and Sinaloa among the areas of highest concentration of migratory birds. This ecoregion also serves as wintering habitat and as refuge from surrounding habitats during harsh climatic conditions for many species, especially birds; this sheltering effect further elevates the conservation value of this habitat.

Some of the many representative avifauna are Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja), Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), sanderling (Calidris alba), American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors), Mexican Jacana (Jacana spinosa), Elegant Trogan (Trogan elegans), Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra), White-tailed Hawk (Buteo albicaudatus), Merlin (Falco columbarius), Plain-capped Starthroat (Heliomaster constantii), Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) and Wood Stork (Mycteria americana).

World Wildlife Fund & C. Michael Hogan

Lifelists

Visits

2001-12-28

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
2005-02-18

Buenos Aires Reserva Costeneras, Argentina
2006-02-09

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2006-02-09

Candlestick Park, United States of America
2006-04-19

Candlestick Park, United States of America
2006-08-12

Canyonlands National Park, United States of America
2006-11-11

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
2006-12-19

Puerto Quito, Ecuador
2006-12-22

Mindo - Foothills, Ecuador

One in with a group of cattle egret.
2007-01-01

Candlestick Park, United States of America
2007-04-07

Torrey Pines State Reserve, United States of America
2007-06-14

Cape May National Wildlife Refuge - Deleware Bay, United States of America
2007-10-10

La Mancha, Mexico
2008-01-04

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
2008-02-17

San Jose del Cabo - Estuary, Mexico
2008-07-13

Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge, United States of America
2009-01-14

Cozumel, Mexico
2009-02-18

Parque National Palo Verde, Costa Rica
2009-02-25

Corcovado National Park - La Sirena, Costa Rica
2009-03-15

Boca de Cupe, Panama
2009-11-29

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2010-01-03

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, United States of America
2010-02-18

Patzcuaro, Mexico
2010-06-21

Cape May Point State Park, United States of America
2011-07-10

Santa Fe River, United States of America
2011-07-15

Pantanal, Brazil
2011-07-21

Itacare, Brazil
2012-04-14

Pier 94, United States of America
2012-08-12

Redwood Shores - Radio Road, United States of America
2012-08-12

Coyote Point County Park--harbor and marsh, United States of America
2012-09-07

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2012-09-23

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2012-12-13

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2013-03-23

Coyote Point County Park--harbor and marsh, United States of America
2013-03-30

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2013-04-14

Austin, United States of America
2013-04-16

Aransas NWR (CTC 037) (Aransas Co.), United States of America
2013-04-17

Brazoria NWR (UTC 108), United States of America
2013-08-05

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2013-12-01

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2014-01-01

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2014-01-11

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2014-01-14

Candlestick Park, United States of America
2014-01-21

Jimani, Dominican Republic
2014-02-22

Santa Fe Grade, United States of America
2014-04-06

Delta Meadows State Park, United States of America
2014-09-23

Redwood Valley, United States of America
2014-11-01

Yosemite Slough, United States of America
2014-12-21

Arrowhead Marsh, United States of America
2014-12-27

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2015-01-01

Candlestick Park, United States of America
2015-01-02

Pixley NWR, United States of America
2015-01-10

Half Moon Bay - Pillar Point, United States of America
2015-01-20

Arrowhead Marsh, United States of America
2016-01-03

Reserva Natural de Humacao, United States of America
2016-01-04

Reserva Natural Laguna Cartagena, United States of America
2016-01-24

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2016-08-06

Crissy Field, United States of America
2016-09-02

Parque Nacional del Manu, Peru
2016-09-03

Parque Nacional del Manu, Peru
2016-11-25

Half Moon Bay - Pillar Point, United States of America
2016-12-17

Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge, United States of America
2017-01-29

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2017-10-11

Crissy Field, United States of America
2018-01-28

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2018-02-11

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2018-02-17

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2018-09-09

India Basin Shoreline Park, United States of America
2018-09-22

Oceano, United States of America
2018-10-13

Crissy Field, United States of America
2018-10-21

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2018-11-11

Mountain View Slough, United States of America
2018-11-12

Crissy Field, United States of America
2018-12-22

Grizzly Island, United States of America
2018-12-28

San Simeon Elephant Seals, United States of America
2019-01-20

San Pablo Bay, United States of America
2019-03-04

Scottsdale, United States of America
2019-06-08

Crissy Field, United States of America
2019-06-20

Laguna Batuco, Chile
2019-06-21

Arica, Chile
2019-06-22

Arica, Chile
2019-06-26

Arica, Chile
2019-06-27

Maipo River Mouth, Chile
2019-07-02

La Serena, Chile
2019-10-20

Crissy Field, United States of America
2019-11-03

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2020-01-26

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2020-01-31

Playa San Pancho, Mexico
2020-06-07

Laguna de Santa Rosa, United States of America
2020-09-14

Pier 94, United States of America
2020-12-18

Upper Maule River Valley, Chile
2020-12-29

Tire Beach, United States of America
2021-05-15

Crissy Field, United States of America
2021-07-18

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, United States of America
2021-07-19

Stone Harbor Wetlands Institute, United States of America
2021-08-08

Pier 94, United States of America
2021-11-19

Buenos Aires Reserva Costeneras, Argentina
2021-12-12

Buenos Aires Reserva Costeneras, Argentina
2022-01-15

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, United States of America
2022-01-16

Lake Solano County Park, United States of America
2023-01-08

Crissy Field, United States of America
2023-01-17

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2023-05-16

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, United States of America
2023-05-17

Stone Harbor Point, United States of America
2023-05-17

Stone Harbor Wetlands Institute, United States of America
2023-05-18

Cape May Point State Park, United States of America
2023-05-18

Shell Bay Landing, United States of America
2023-05-19

Cape May Point State Park, United States of America
2023-05-20

Heislerville Wildlife Management Area, United States of America
2023-07-22

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2023-09-26

Parque Nacional Tortuguero, Costa Rica
2024-02-03

Cayo Coco, Cuba
2024-03-27

Teotitlan del Valle, Mexico
2024-04-05

Santiago, Mexico
2024-05-31

Heron's Head Park, United States of America
2024-10-09

Barranquilla Swamp, Colombia
2024-10-14

Santuario de Fauna y Flora Los Flamencos, Colombia
2025-03-18

Oistins, Barbados
2025-03-20

Long Bay, Barbados
2025-03-23

Vermont Nature Trail, Saint Vincent and Grenadines
2025-04-12

St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
2025-04-13

St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
2025-04-14

McKinnon's Pond, Antigua and Barbuda
2025-07-06

Reserva Ecologica Manglar Churute, Ecuador
2025-07-16

Lagunas de Giron, Ecuador
2025-07-26

Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge - Alviso, United States of America

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

About Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Lifelists

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Visits