Flying Egrets Identification

Three step identification method-Samuma method

Identifying a flying egret can be quite complicated because its proportion is very similar and most of them have white plumage. If you are lucky, the Little Egret with its yellow toes or the Cattle Egret with orange back and head can be seen in the sunny day, however, when they fly back to the colony in the sunset time, those color parts cannot be seen but only seen its dark silhouette. In such a case, the three-step identification method, so called “Sakuma method”, can be useful to identify. This method was devised in 2014 by Sakuma who is a veteran member of the Aichi Branch. Identifying process is divided into three steps in this method and has turned to be easy process even for beginners.

　　　　　　　　

First Step: Wingbeat speed

　　　　　　　　

In the first step, narrowing a target egret into a slow wingbeat group which includes the Great White Egret and the Intermediate Egret, or a fast wingbeat group which includes the Little Egret and the Cattle Egret. We researched the number of wingbeats per second for the four egret species with taking motion pictures and found that the former group has 3.0 to 3.2 times per second and the latter group has 3.6 times per second.

　　　　

Wingbeat speed

Slow wingbeat group

• Great White Egret in Fly　（Click） About 3.0 per second
• Intermediate Egret in Fly　（Click） About 3.2 per second
　　　　

Fast wingbeat group

• Little Egret in Fly　（Click）About 3.6 per second
• Cattle Egret in Fly　（Click）About 3.6 per second
　　　　

Second Step: Bill Length

　

In the second step, if the target Egret is categorized in the slow wingbeat group, the target is judged by the bill length and determined that it is a Great White Egret which has longer bills, or an Intermediate Egret which has shorter bills. If the target is categorized in the fast wingbeat group, it is judged and determined that it is a Little Egret which has longer bills, or a Cattle Egret which has shorter bills. However, at this step, final answer may be premature because the bill length may appear differently depending on the angle from the location of an observer. Thus, final answer should be made after the third step.

　 　　　　　

　　　　　　　　

Third Step: Total Impression and Proportion Balance

　

In the third step, the target Egret is finally judged by total impression and proportion balance. These four Egrets in fly look the same at a glance, however, when you look at the Egrets carefully, each impression and proportion balance differs from the others. The difference points are, for example, length of the legs or shape of S-curved neck. The important factor to judge the species precisely, these impression and proportion balance should be kept in your mind. Here is a deformed illustration for your final answer.