Great Egret

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Silhouette: JJ Harrison · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Fukuoka

In 3 days ~70% in a week ~90%

117 Verified sightings at Fukuoka
105,586 In all 222 parks From 2019 to 2026
June Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Great Egret

The great egret (Ardea alba), also known as the common egret, large egret, great white egret, or great white heron, is a large, widely distributed egret. The four subspecies are found in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and southern Europe. Recently, it has also been spreading to more northern areas of Europe. Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, it builds tree nests in colonies close to water.

The great egret was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Ardea alba. He specified the type locality as Europe. The scientific name comes from Latin ardea, "heron", and alba, "white".

Like all egrets, it is a member of the heron family, Ardeidae. Traditionally classified with the storks in the Ciconiiformes, the Ardeidae are closer relatives of pelicans and belong in the Pelecaniformes, instead. The great egret, unlike the typical egrets, does not belong to the genus Egretta, but together with the great herons is today placed in Ardea. In the past, however, it was sometimes placed in Egretta or separated in a monotypic genus Casmerodius.

The... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Flight call0:13

Spain · 2026

© Esperanza Poveda · XC1166667 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call0:13

United States · 2025

© Sue Riffe · XC1043529 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Nocturnal flight call0:07

United Kingdom · 2025

© Mark Newsome · XC1012291 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~80%
2 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~80%
3 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
~80%
4 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
~80%
5 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge 🇺🇸 United States
~70%
6 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~70%
7 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~70%
8 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~70%
9 Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas 🇧🇷 Brazil
~70%
10 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~70%
11 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
~70%
12 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
~70%
13 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
~60%
14 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~60%
15 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~60%
16 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~60%
17 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~60%
18 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~60%
19 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~60%
20 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~60%
21 Iberá National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~60%
22 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~60%
23 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~60%
24 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
~50%
25 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~50%
26 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~50%
27 Cape Range 🇦🇺 Australia
~50%
28 Los Haitises National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~50%
29 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~50%
30 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~50%
31 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~50%
32 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
33 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
~50%
34 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~50%
35 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~50%
36 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~50%
37 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~50%
38 Udawalawe National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~50%
39 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~40%
40 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~40%
41 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~40%
42 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~40%
43 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
~40%
44 Daintree National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~40%
45 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~40%
46 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~40%
47 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~40%
48 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
49 Minneriya National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~40%
50 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~40%
51 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
52 Península Valdés 🇦🇷 Argentina
~30%
53 Anavilhanas National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~30%
54 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~30%
55 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
~30%
56 Isla del Coco National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
57 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~30%
58 Utría National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~30%
59 Iguaçu National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~30%
60 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
61 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~30%
62 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
~30%
63 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~30%
64 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
65 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~30%
66 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~30%
67 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
~30%
68 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
69 Hattah-Kulkyne National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~30%
70 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~30%
71 Bali Barat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~30%
72 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
73 Iguazú National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~30%
74 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~30%
75 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~30%
76 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~30%
77 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~30%
78 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
79 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
80 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
81 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
82 uMkhuze Game Reserve 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
83 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~20%
84 Padre Island National Seashore 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
85 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
86 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
87 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
88 El Impenetrable National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~20%
89 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
90 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~20%
91 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~20%
92 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~20%
93 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~20%
94 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
95 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~20%
96 Bako National Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%
97 Berenty Reserve 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~20%
98 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
99 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
100 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
101 Ankarafantsika National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~20%
102 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
103 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
104 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
105 Gir National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
106 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
107 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
108 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
109 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
~20%
110 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~10%
111 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
112 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
~10%
113 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
114 Way Kambas National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~10%
115 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
116 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
117 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
118 Tijuca National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%
119 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
120 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
121 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
122 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~10%
123 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
124 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
125 Periyar National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
126 El Palmar National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~10%
127 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
128 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
129 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
130 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
~10%
131 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
132 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
133 Litchfield National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
134 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
135 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
136 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
137 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%
138 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
~10%
139 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
140 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
141 Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park 🇨🇱 Chile
~10%
142 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
143 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
144 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
145 Wilsons Promontory National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
146 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
147 Noosa National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
148 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
149 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
150 Nahuel Huapi National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~10%
151 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
152 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
~10%
153 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~10%
154 Manas National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
155 Booderee National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
156 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~10%
157 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
158 Sepilok 🇲🇾 Malaysia
<5%
159 Taroko National Park 🇹🇼 Taiwan
<5%
160 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
161 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
162 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
163 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
164 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
165 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
166 Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park 🇲🇳 Mongolia
<5%
167 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
168 Serra dos Órgãos National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
169 Tatra National Park 🇸🇰 Slovakia
<5%
170 Gunung Leuser National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
<5%
171 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
172 Nitmiluk National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
173 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
<5%
174 Cuc Phuong National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
<5%
175 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
176 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
177 Plitvice Lakes National Park 🇭🇷 Croatia
<5%
178 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
179 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
180 Freycinet National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
181 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
182 Mantadia National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
<5%
183 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
184 Ranomafana National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
<5%
185 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
186 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
187 Nikko National Park 🇯🇵 Japan
<5%
188 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
189 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
190 Serra da Canastra National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
191 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
192 Springbrook National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
193 Kerinci Seblat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
<5%
194 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
195 Mudumalai National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
196 Khao Sok National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
197 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
198 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
<5%
199 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
200 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
201 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
202 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
<5%
203 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
204 Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park 🇯🇲 Jamaica
<5%
205 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
206 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
<5%
207 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
208 Main Ridge Forest Reserve 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
<5%
209 Doi Inthanon National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
210 Danum Valley Conservation Area 🇲🇾 Malaysia
<5%
211 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
212 Sinharaja Forest Reserve 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
<5%
213 Raja Ampat 🇮🇩 Indonesia
<5%
214 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%
215 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
216 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
217 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
218 Los Nevados National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
219 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
220 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
221 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
222 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Antananarivo 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~80%
2 Barranquilla 🇨🇴 Colombia
~70%
3 Daejeon 🇰🇷 South Korea
~70%
4 Naha 🇯🇵 Japan
~70%
5 Tuen Mun 🇨🇳 China
~60%
6 Salvador 🇧🇷 Brazil
~60%
7 Denpasar 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~60%
8 Quanzhou 🇨🇳 China
~50%
9 Belém 🇧🇷 Brazil
~50%
10 Nagoya 🇯🇵 Japan
~50%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Disney's Animal Kingdom 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
2 Parque das Aves 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
3 Zoo Hluboka 🇨🇿 Czechia In captivity
4 Zoo Miami 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
5 San Diego Zoo Safari Park 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
6 Lion Country Safari 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
7 Safari West 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
8 Busch Gardens Williamsburg 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
9 Living Desert Zoo and Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
10 SeaWorld San Antonio 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
11 Brookfield Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
12 Phoenix Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
13 São Paulo Zoo 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
14 Parque Municipal Summit 🇵🇦 Panama In captivity
15 Saint Louis Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
16 Zoológico de Goiânia 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
17 Gatorland 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
18 Almaty Zoo 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan In captivity
19 Perth Zoo 🇦🇺 Australia In captivity
20 Cameron Park Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
21 Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens 🇻🇳 Vietnam In captivity
22 Fresno Chaffee Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
23 Thiruvananthapuram Zoo 🇮🇳 India In captivity
24 Zoo Americana / Parque Ecológico Municipal 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
25 Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures 🇦🇺 Australia In captivity
26 Aviario Nacional de Colombia 🇨🇴 Colombia In captivity
27 Willowbank Wildlife Reserve 🇳🇿 New Zealand In captivity
28 Jardin zoologique de la ville de Lyon 🇫🇷 France In captivity
29 Mangal das Garças 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
30 Parque Zoobotânico do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
31 Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
32 Zoológico de Fauna Sudamericana 🇧🇴 Bolivia In captivity
33 King's Garden 🇻🇳 Vietnam In captivity
34 Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park 🇦🇺 Australia In captivity
35 Washington Park Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
36 Bali Bird Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia In captivity
37 zoologico de barranquilla 🇨🇴 Colombia In captivity
38 Florida Aquarium 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
39 Gran Acuario de Mazatlán "Mar de Cortés" 🇲🇽 Mexico In captivity
40 Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
41 Mote Marine Laboratory 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
42 Jacques Huber Aquarium 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
43 Seaside Seabird Sanctuary 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
44 Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro 🇲🇽 Mexico In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Great Egret in Fukuoka?

Possible

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Great Egret sighting in Fukuoka on a given day, based on 117 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 22nd most-seen of the 92 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Great Egret in Fukuoka?

June, August–September and December

In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Great Egret in Fukuoka on a given day, against about 30% in January–May, July and October–November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Great Egret?

Between 8 and 11 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Great Egret sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Fukuoka the best place to see a Great Egret?

37th of 292

Of the 292 cities where we can rate Great Egret sightings, Fukuoka ranks 37th at about 30%. The best odds are in Antananarivo (Madagascar, about 80%), Barranquilla (Colombia, about 70%) and Daejeon (South Korea, about 70%).

Which relatives of the Great Egret live in Fukuoka?

Same genus: Ardea

The closest relatives of the Great Egret that you can see in Fukuoka (genus Ardea, Great Herons and Egrets) are Grey Heron (about 60%) and Ardea modesta (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Great Egret sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Great Egret is recorded against all the birds logged in Fukuoka (117 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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