Differences between Egret and Flamingo

Egret Egret
Flamingo Flamingo

Egret and Flamingo are two classes of birds that belong to the Ardeidae and Phoenicopteridae families respectively.

Egrets are birds that symbolise purity and strength. They belong to the species of Herons. These birds have white plumage that were used in earlier times for dress and trade. Egrets differ from other species of Herons by their mating displays and the pure white plumes they develop in the breeding season.

Considered a symbol of beauty, Flamingos are admired for their pink feathers, slender legs, S-shaped neck, large wings, orange-colored eyes, and graceful gait. They are wading birds that include six species like Greater Flamingo, Andean Flamingo, and Caribbean Flamingo.

Where are Egret and Flamingo found?

Egrets live close to wetlands, be it fresh or salt. You can find them near seas, rivers, marshes, ponds, and thick forests. They were originally found in Europe, Asia, and Africa but have later spread across the world. As they cannot survive colder weather, they are not distributed in Antarctica and the Arctic.

Flamingos live in large and saline lakes, lagoons, and shallow waters. They can be found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They exist in parts of USA, southern Europe, southwestern Asia, and coasts of Africa. The most widespread species is the Greater Flamingo, which can be found in southern Europe, Africa, India, and few other parts of Asia.

What do Egret and Flamingo eat?

Egrets are carnivores that source their feeds generally from water systems. So, their diet mostly includes fish, water insects, frogs, snakes, and crustaceans. However, Egrets sometimes also hunt on land and eat insects, grasshoppers, and rodents.

Flamingos are omnivores. They eat algae, crustaceans, diatoms, mollusks, larvae, shrimps, small fish, and insects. The diet of Flamingos consists of immense amount of beta carotene, hence the rich pink color of their plumage, face, and legs. Flamingos look for food in shallow waters, putting their bill under water and raking the water bed with their feet. They are capable of holding their breath while they put their heads inside water in search of food. They turn their head upside down to drain the muddy water through the comb-like structures in their bill.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Egret and Flamingo

  • Both Egret and Flamingo eat Fish.
  • Egret do eat Frogs while Flamingo may not eat Frogs.
  • Egret do eat Lizards while Flamingo may not eat Lizards.
  • Egret do eat Snakes while Flamingo may not eat Snakes.
  • Egret do eat Turtles while Flamingo may not eat Turtles.
  • Egret do eat Squirrels while Flamingo may not eat Squirrels.
  • Gophers are commonly eaten by Egret while Flamingo do not eat Gophers.
  • Baby Ducks are commonly eaten by Egret while Flamingo do not eat Baby Ducks.
  • Egret do eat Mice while Flamingo may not eat Mice.

Size of Egret and Flamingo?

When it comes to size, Egrets are smaller than Herons. They are a little less than three feet tall and have wings that measure 1.3-1.7 metres.. Flamingos are usually three to five feet tall. They have a wingspan of 2.9 to 3.2 feet. The Greater Flamingo are the largest among Flamingo species with a height of 3.6-4.9 feet.

An adult Egret usually weighs 1.1-3.3 pounds. while The weight of Flamingos varies as per the species. The average weight is 4.4-9.9 kilograms.

Where do Egret and Flamingo nest?

Egrets generally build large and messy nests in their colonies that even consist of birds of other species. The nests are usually constructed on shrubs or lowly trees, typically 10-40 feet from the ground. It is mostly the male egret that establishes the nesting area by creating a nest platform. Both the male and female egrets incubate the eggs for a period of around 24 days.

Flamingos build their nest by making a mound from mud and grass. The mound has to be strong enough to withstand any flooding or heat from the ground. Both male and female partners construct it by shoving mud with their bill and feet. The nests are usually located closer to water bodies. The female lays one egg a year. Both partners incubate the egg for 27-31 days. The younger ones have white feathers until they attain maturity at around two years. They fledge when they are about nine to 13 weeks old.

How long do Egret and Flamingo live?

Lifespan of an Egret is up to 15 years in the wild. The younger ones could face high mortality due to climate, migration, predators, and siblicide. The oldest Great Egret lived for almost 23 years in the state of Ohio.

The average lifespan of Flamingos is 30-40 years. The oldest Flamingo lived till the age of 83 years at the Adelaide Zoo in Australia. It died in January 2014.

Are Egret or Flamingo migratory birds?

Egrets become residents in warmer locations. However, in regions where they cannot withstand the cold, they tend to migrate after the breeding season. Migration usually happens from Europe to Africa and south Asia and from northern parts of the USA to central and southern America.

Flamingos are non-migratory birds. However, climatic conditions like rise in water levels, drought, cold winters, and freezing of lakes at higher altitudes may compel them to relocate. The place where they migrate to depends on the direction of the wind. Additionally, Flamingos prefer to travel in the night. Flamingos living in the northern parts of Asia migrate in large numbers to India and Iran during winters. In Europe, they either go to Spain, Tunisia or Turkey. In America, the birds migrate only short distances in search of food.

Do Egret and Flamingo fly in flocks?

A group of Egrets is known by different names, such as colony, siege, skewer, wedge, and congregation. Egrets are sociable and hunt in flocks. But they can also remain isolated. They generally gather during sunsets and roost in colonies.

A group of Flamingos is called flamboyance. These birds are extremely gregarious. They always live in groups of a few tens and even up to 350. Their larger colonies can even have a thousand birds and are known to be noisy. Flamingos eat and roost in groups. They also breed in flocks. This arrangement helps them stay safe from predators – while some birds have their head bent under water for hunting, others keep guard. According to research, Flamingos make long lasting friends and also have enemies.

Are Egret or Flamingo protected?

Governments across the world have taken measures to protect Egrets under wildlife conservation and migratory bird laws. Egrets are protected in various countries like the USA, UK, China, Taiwan, China, Russia, India, and France.

The US Migratory Bird Act protects Greater, Chilean, and Caribbean Flamingos. They are protected partially or completely in parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Are Egret or Flamingo endangered?

The population of Egrets dwindled to near extinction in the 19th century owing to devious hunting of the birds for their plumes. However, introduction of protection and conservation laws have helped in resurgence of their population. Egrets can now be commonly found in wetlands and coasts across the world. They are not an endangered species.

Flamingos are not endangered birds. Nevertheless, there is consensus that their population is on a decline owing to habitat destruction, poaching, hunting for feathers, environmental changes, and pollutants in their water habitats. The Chilean and James Flamingos are considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Can Egret and Flamingo fly?

Egrets start flying when they are six to seven weeks old. They are dynamic flyers with an ability to cover 25 miles in an hour. They tuck their neck in and hold their legs freely in flight. They are capable of flying long distances during migration.

Flamingos like to fly when the sky is clear and tailwinds are encouraging. During the day, they fly at high altitudes – as much as 15,000 feet above sea level. They fly long distances during migration, flying at speeds of 31-37 miles an hour and covering distances of nearly 375 miles in one night.

Can Egret and Flamingo swim?

Egrets are generally wading birds. They rarely swim to catch their preys. Further, they have non-webbed feet that makes swimming difficult for them.

Flamingos generally wade through water with the help of their long legs. However, in deeper waters they swim on the surface of water with their webbed feet.

Mating patterns among Egret and Flamingo

Egrets acquire heightened beauty during the breeding season – the reason for which bird watchers yearn to catch a glimpse of them during this time. The birds start mating when they are two or three years old. Each breeding season of the year, the male egret selects a nesting area where it builds a nest platform. It then displays its special long white plumes to find a mate for courtship. Egrets generally breed in their colonies and seldom in solitary pairs.

Flamingos attain sexual maturity at the age of three to six, by which time the white baby feathers have turned completely pink. In the breeding season, the male and female Flamingos perform sophisticated group dances to attract partners. The birds engage in mating displays that start with the head flag, involving loud calls and vigorous movement of the head. The displays will also include bowing, stretching of neck, and feather movements. Mating occurs in the water. Partners collaborate to construct the nests and jointly incubate the eggs.

When is the mating season for Egret and Flamingo ?

The mating season for Egrets is usually October-December in the southern hemisphere and March-May in the northern hemisphere. They breed only once a year.

There is no particular mating season for Flamingos. They breed at any time of the year when water levels, climatic conditions, and availability of food are supportive. It is observed that Flamingos generally breed when rainfall is adequate, which also means that food supply during the period is good enough.

Do Egret and Flamingo mate for life?

Egrets are monogamous during each breeding season. However, they may not stay with the same partner every year. They are known to have multiple partners in their lifetime.

The bonding between Flamingo partners is known to be strong. Therefore, they may be monogamous. However, some of them also change partners every season.

How do Egret and Flamingo sleep?

Egrets sleep at night while standing on one foot in water to sense vibrations from predators. They keep their heads retracted under a wing. They generally roost in flocks to stay safe from attacks.

Flamingos sleep while standing on one leg and resting their heads on their backs. The ligaments and muscles in the leg can lock to help the bird stay in one position while asleep. They sleep for about three hours at a stretch, be it day or night.

Can Egret and Flamingo be eaten?

Egrets used to be eaten in earlier times in some parts of Africa. However, they no longer can be hunted for their meat. It is illegal and will invite hefty fines.

In ancient times people ate Flamingos and their eggs. The tongues of Flamingos were considered a delicacy. Romans are known to have consumed the birds by boiling them with wine and spices. However, Flamingos are no longer eaten. Conservation and protection laws also do not permit it.

Can you hunt Egret or Flamingo?

Egrets were hunted ruthlessly until late 19th century for their plumes. This led to their near extinction. Nevertheless, new anti-hunting, conservation, and migratory laws adopted across the world have saved the species. Egrets are widespread and a common sight now.

Hunting of Flamingos was rampant. People in earlier times killed them for their meat and feather. However, modern laws do not allow hunting or trading of Flamingos.

Can you feed Egret or Flamingo?

Feeding wild animals and birds in public places is not permitted in places like USA, Singapore, and Dubai. In captivity, Egrets can be fed with fish, eggs, insects, earthworms, and meat.

Feeding Flamingos in public places is not permitted in many countries like Singapore and USA. At the zoos, Flamingos are given food rich in carotenoids to avoid fading of their pink color. Therefore, the feed will include shrimps, crustaceans, and clams.