Yellow-billed Egret Ardea brachyrhyncha

A stocky egret that is larger than Western Cattle and Little Egrets, but smaller than the Great Egret. Often confusing and difficult to identify, this bird is truly intermediate between potential confusion species. Things to look for include a yellow bill (brighter during breeding season) that is shorter than Great Egret but longer than Cattle Egret, a relatively rounded head, and shorter legs than Great Egret, approaching Cattle Egret. Like most egret species, associates with all types of water bodies including wet fields, often flocking with other egrets.