Chinese Egret

We watched a Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes in shallow water alongside sand bars as it exhibited some extraordinary behaviour when feeding. As it danced in the water, its neck was very bent and it appeared to be listening or more likely looking for food. Despite its similar appearance to Little Egret Egretta garzetta, this is not a feeding behaviour that I have ever seen in this species / jc.

The Chinese Egret breeds on small islands off the coasts of far eastern Russia, North Korea, South Korea and mainland China. It formerly bred in Taiwan and the New Territories of Hong Kong although it is now only a non-breeding visitor or passage migrant to these countries. It is also a non-breeding passage migrant or wintering visitor in Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei. The most important wintering areas are the Eastern Visayas, i.e. the islands of Leyte, Bohol and Cebu in the Philippines, and the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Selangor where between one third and a half of the world population are believed to winter, based on the results of a winter census undertaken in 2004/05. The total population is estimated at 2,600-3,400 individuals. During the decade 2002-2012 there was no significant decline in the population of this species, and there are newly discovered colonies off the coast of southern China which may represent increased observer effort, but could also indicate a real growth in the population.

Outside the breeding season the Chinese Egret occurs in shallow tidal estuaries, mudflats and bays, occasionally visiting rice fields and fish ponds. All recent breeding records have been from offshore islands.

It is classified as Vulnerable, the biggest threat being habitat loss.

Source: Wikipedia