Medium Egret

Medium Egret (Egretta intermedia) is an all-white heron intermediate in size between the great and little egrets, with a comparatively short bill and rounded head profile. Body shape, bill structure, plumage pattern and voice provide the strongest field characters. Age, sex and season may alter its appearance, so identification should combine several features and careful direct field comparisons with similar species in the same habitat (Wikipedia, general species account).

It feeds in shallow wetlands and damp grassland by standing, walking and striking at fish, frogs and insects, and breeds colonially with other waterbirds. Its movements and social behaviour vary through the year, with breeding birds generally more dispersed and non-breeding birds gathering where food is concentrated. Japanese records place it within the country's documented avifauna as a resident, migrant or visitor (Wikipedia, general species account; Wildlife of Japan occurrence records).