Animal
Snowy egret
Egretta thula
A white bird with a long neck, a long dark bill, long dark legs, and distinctive bright yellow feet. About 24 inches high, the Snowy egret is smaller than the Great egret. Like all egrets and herons, it may choose to recoil its neck when standing, making its neck seem shorter than it really is. This is always true in flight, unlike cranes and storks which fly with their necks outstretched, egrets and herons fly with their neck recoiled. Its food includes Fish, crustaceans, frogs, insects, and worms. The snowy egret has a diverse array of tactics that it deploys to catch its prey. It may crouch, and wait for prey to come within striking range, or may choose a more active hunting strategy. It may walk slowly snatching at prey, or walk quickly, or even break into a run. Sometimes these birds can be observed running and flapping over the surface of the water striking down into the water at their aquatic prey. They also have a special use for their bright yellow feet. Using various paddling, raking, and probing motions with their feet, Snowy egrets startle their prey, thus stalling them before they strike.