An initial comparison of 4 similar species of white egret:

Snowy Egret: Bright yellow lores - dark bill
Little Egret: Greyish yellow lores - dark bill
Great Egret (egretta & alba): Green grey lores - yellow bill
Cattle Egret: Yellow lores - short yellow bill - hairy under bill

Snowy v Little: Yellow lores (and feet) on Snowy
Cattle v Little or Snowy: Short yellow bill on Cattle
Little v Great: Yellow bill on Great (can change)

Later I will include a comparison of size, legs, plumage and feet, different ages and breeding seasons, and locationMore photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France • January 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Cattle Egret
Latin: Bubulcus ibis
Other: Héron Garde-Boeuf (Fr)
Family: Ardeidae • EgretsMore photos...

Bird name: Little Egret
Latin: Egretta garzetta
Other: Aigrette Garzette (Fr)
Family: Ardeidae
Tag: Herons, Storks & Ibises

Photos: monacoeye • Camargue, France • December 2008More photos...

Bird name: Great Egret
Latin: Ardea alba
Other: Grande Aigrette (Fr) • Kotuku (NZ)
Family: Ardeidae
Tag: Herons, Storks & Ibises

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue, France • December 2008More photos...