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Common Name : Little Egret     -       Scientific Name : Egretta garzetta       -       Other Name : Punchi Sudu Koka (S)

This is one of the most common water birds in the country. It is a species with a wide spread distribution in the world and is found in warm temperate to tropical parts of Europe, Africa and Australia. In 1994 this species was reported breeding in Barbados. Since then it has spread in the Caribbean region and along the Atlantic coast of USA in to the new world.

Three sub species have been recognized. The nominate subspecies E.g.garzetta, which is found in Sri Lanka is also found in Europe, Africa and most parts of Asia excluding the south-east. The Northern European populations of these birds migrate to Africa while some remain in Southern Europe. Some Asian populations of this race migrate to the Philippines.   E.g.nigripes is found from Indonesia to New Guinea. E.g.immaculata in Australia and New Zealand.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Least Concerned (National Red List 2012).

This is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

I have seen this species to be common from the lowlands to the mid hills up to about 500 meters in altitude. The highest altitude at which I have seen this bird so far has been at lake Gregory in Nuwaraeliya. It is very common in the north and the islands off the coast of Jaffna. It is a bird that can be seen in al most all the paddy fields in the country.

This is a common species in all the water bodies in Wilpattu.