I can't say I have.
To make things even more interesting this is what the IUCN Heron Specialist
Group have to say about Little Egrets:
Nigripes is white. It is similar to garzettaexcept its feet are black not
yellow although occasionally having yellow soles. Nonbreeding lores are blue
grey becoming red in courtship. The irises become red, but the feet remain
black.
Immaculataalso is white. Nonbreeding lores are yellow, an important distinction
from garzetta. Legs and feet are black, with yellow soles. In courtship, the
irises turn red, as do the lores before reverting to yellow. The feet remain
black although the soles can turn red.
So, to add to Niven's question - has anyone seen soles go red on 'Aussie'
Little Egrets? (you'd have to be lucky I guess, witnessing courtship)
I will forward a query to Max Maddock; a Hunter local who has studied and
published on breeding Little Egrets.
We haven't even brought into this how Western Reef Egret (gularis) is
considered a sub-species of Little Egret (garzetta) by some authors, which
could have relevance to 'Australian' birds with regards to the "piebald" egrets
that occur on the Cocos Islands - a heron-fanatic's paradise!
Mick
________________________________
From: Niven <>
To: Birding Aus <>
Sent: Tuesday, 16 October 2012 1:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Nominate Little Egret at WTP on Birdline
I haven't looked up any apparent differences between the immaculata and
nigripes races. But on the sole colour, has anyone actually seen a breeding
plumaged Little Egret with clearly yellowish soles?
On 16 October 2012 11:40, Mike Carter <> wrote:
> HANZAB reminds us that formerly there were two subspecies of Little Egret
> in A'asia, nigripes and immaculata. Some of us would prefer that situation
> restored as there are differences between populations, which may include
> feet colour.
>
> Mike Carter
> 30 Canadian Bay Road
> Mount Eliza VIC 3930
> Tel (03) 9787 7136
>
>
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