The great egret (Ardea alba), also known as the common egret, large egret, or great white egret or great white heron is a large, widely distributed egret.
Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, it builds tree nests in colonies close to water.
The Great Egret is generally a very successful species with a large and expanding range, occurring worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats.