what is an egret

An egret is a type of wading bird that is closely related to herons. They have long legs, necks, and bills, as well as short tails. Egrets are generally white or buff in color, and many species develop fine plumes during the breeding season. The distinction between a heron and an egret is rather vague and depends more on appearance than biology. The word "egret" comes from the French word aigrette, which means both "silver heron" and "brush," referring to the long, filamentous feathers that seem to cascade down an egrets back during the breeding season. Several species of egrets have been reclassified from one genus to another in recent years. The great egret, for example, has been classified as a member of either Casmerodius, Egretta, or Ardea. Egrets typically frequent marshes, lakes, humid forests, and other wetland environments, and they catch small fishes, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and crustaceans in shallow waters.