Plumed egret

{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{Speciesbox | image = Intermediate Egret in breeding plumage.1 - Fogg Dam - Middle Point - Northern Territory - Australia.jpg | image_caption = Plumed egret in breeding plumage, Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve, Northern Territory, Australia | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International. |year=2024 |title=''Ardea plumifera'' |volume=2024 |article-number=e.T22727683A264991189 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22727683A264991189.en |access-date=29 November 2025}}</ref> | genus = Ardea | species = plumifera | authority = (Gould, 1848) | synonyms = {{Specieslist | Herodias plumiferus | Gould, 1848 | Egretta plumifera | (Gould, 1848) | Mesophyx plumifera | (Gould, 1848) }} | range_map = Ardea_plumifera_range.png | range_map_caption = {{leftlegend|#008000|Resident|outline=gray}} {{leftlegend|#0000ff|Non-breeding|outline=gray}} }}

The '''plumed egret''' ('''''Ardea plumifera''''') is a species of heron native to Australia and Oceania. Previously this species was regarded as a subspecies of the intermediate egret (''Ardea intermedia'' ''sensu lato'') alongside the Asian intermediate egret (''A. (i.) intermedia'') and the African yellow-billed egret (''A. (i.) brachyrhyncha'').

==Taxonomy== The plumed egret was first formally described as ''Herodias plumiferus'' by the English ornithologist John Gould with its type locality given as New South Wales.<ref name = Schauensee>{{cite journal |author=Rodolphe Meyer de Schauensee |year=1957 |title=On Some Avian Types, Principally Gould's, in the Collection of the Academy |journal=Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia |volume=109 |pages=123–246 |jstor=4064497 |language=en }}</ref> This taxon has been regarded as a subspecies of the intermediate egret (''Ardea intermedia'') but on 26 September 2023 the International Ornithological Congress recognised the three subspecies of ''A. intermedia'' as valid species.<ref name = ioc23>{{cite web |url= https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/updates/proposed-splits/ |title= IOC World Bird List v13.2 Proposed Splits/Lumps |date=26 September 2023 |access-date=27 September 2023 |publisher=IOC}}</ref>

==Description== The plumed egret is a medium-sized heron, {{cvt|56|to|70|cm}} in length with an all white plumage. In breeding plumage it develops long white frilly plumes from its breast and shoulders. In addition, the bill changes colour to red or orange with green lores and the tibia is red and the tarsus is black. Outside the breeding season the bill is yellow-orange with yellow lores and the legs are black.<ref name = S&D>{{cite book | author1=Ken Simpson |author2=Nicolas Day |name-list-style=& |year=2013 |title=Birds of Australia |edition=8 |publisher=Christopher Helm |page=76 |isbn=978-07136-6982-4 }}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat== The plumed egret is found in Australasia and breeds in eastern Indonesia, Timor-Leste, New Guinea and Australia,<ref name = Walsh>{{cite journal |author1=Adrian Walsh |author2=Chris J. Chafer |name-list-style=and |year=2022 |title=Taxonomic revision, occurrence, and identification of Intermediate Egret ''Ardea intermedia'' in North Queensland, Australia |journal=Australian Field Ornithology |volume=39 |pages=174–194 |doi=10.20938/afo39174194|doi-access=free }}</ref> with vagrants occurring in New Zealand and the Solomon Islands.<ref name = Birdlife>{{cite web |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/plumed-egret-ardea-plumifera/details |title=Plumed Egret ''Ardea plumifera'' |access-date=1 October 2023 |publisher=Birdlife International}}</ref> This species is found in the shallow water at the edges of freshwater wetlands and the intertidal zone.<ref name = S&D/>

==Biology== The plumed egret is diurnal, hunting in shallow water for fish, frogs, aquatic insects and crustaceans. In Australia this species breeds in late summer forming colonies in trees. They lay 3-5 pale bluish-green eggs which are incubated by the male and the female and take 24–27 days to hatch. The young fledge in 5 or 6 weeks.<ref name = frogwatch>{{cite web |url=http://www.frogwatch.org.au/?action=animal.view&pid=734 |title=Intermediate, Plumed Egret |access-date=1 October 2023 |publisher=BiodiversityWatch |work=Birdwatch}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Ardea (bird) Category:Taxa named by John Gould