The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
Size: About 57 cm (23 inches)
Elegant, graceful, and always a delight to spot, the Snowy Egret is one of the Caribbean’s most striking herons. Found across Tobago’s swamps, marshes, and coastlines, these birds are masters of shallow-water hunting. Some migrate here during the North American winter, while others call our islands home year-round, raising their young among the mangroves.

At first glance, it’s their pure white feathers that catch the eye, but look closer, and you’ll notice the fine details that set them apart: a slim black bill, golden-yellow lores, black legs, and those unmistakable yellow toes. During breeding season, adults take on an even more dazzling look, growing long, delicate plumes on the head and back ornaments that were once prized in the fashion trade, but today serve only to inspire admiration in the wild.

Unlike many of their heron cousins who stand silently waiting for prey, Snowy Egrets bring real energy to the hunt, dashing, darting, and dancing through the shallows in pursuit of fish and other aquatic creatures. Their nests, built low among the mangroves, often cluster together in lively colonies where the air is filled with movement and calls.

The Snowy Egret is not just a beautiful bird; it’s a living reminder of the richness of Tobago’s wetlands and the importance of protecting these fragile habitats.