A white egret that feeds on mudflats and in mangroves. It breeds in East Asia and moves south seasonally.
Breeding birds have long head and back plumes, an orange-yellow bill, blue lores, black legs, and bright yellow feet. Nonbreeding birds lack a crest and plumes, have greenish legs, and a black bill with a pale pinkish base to the lower mandible.
It forages in shallow coastal places such as mudflats and mangroves. After breeding it moves south; in Singapore it is a rare passage and winter visitor.
It runs to and fro through shallow water on the falling tide, often with wings half-spread, chasing fish. Small fish and shrimps are its main food, and it feeds alone or in small groups.
It nests colonially on coastal islands, using trees, bushes, vegetation, or rocks for flat nests of twigs and dry grass. Clutches usually contain three to four eggs; incubation lasts 24–26 days and is mostly by the female.
Young birds resemble nonbreeding adults and lack the luxuriant plumes.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.