The snowy egret (Egretta thula) is the American counterpart to the very similar Old World little egret. They use one foot to stir up the bottom of ponds and marshes, flushing prey into view. The snowy egret is a medium-sized, white heron with a slender, black bill, black legs and yellow feet. They live around bodies of water including lakes, marshes, ponds, swamps, and along very shallow coastal regions. In flight, the snowy egret holds its neck in an S curve. In the latter 19th century, their plumes were popularly used on hats. As a result, the birds were hunted until they were nearly extinct.
