• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
Despite its large range, this species occupies a restricted habitat and is patchily distributed. As a result, its population is likely small. The population trend however remains inconclusive, but moderate declines are suspected on the basis of ongoing threats. As such, the species is listed as Near Threatened.

Population justification
Recent estimates suggest that the majority of the population is found in Mexico and Texas, USA (C. Green in litt. 2016). Surveys in western Mexico identified 43 breeding sites including 20 active nesting sites in Baja California, seven in Sinaloa, five in Baja California, eight in Sonora, and three in Chiapas/Oaxaca. The largest colony in western Mexico supports 258 breeding pairs while the average colony size was 18 pairs. The population estimate for the Pacific coast of Mexico is 1,108 breeding pairs (Palacios et al. 2018). Along the Caribbean coast, Mexico holds 897 breeding pairs in the Yucatan peninsula (Palacios et al. 2018) and fewer than 200 pairs at Laguna Madre in Tamaulipas. Numbers for the USA include 950-1,050 pairs in Texas and an estimated 480 pairs in Florida (Cox et al. 2019). Further population estimates include 50 pairs at Inagua (Bahamas) and 50 pairs elsewhere in the Bahamas, and 1,000-2,500 individuals in northeastern Belize (J. Verde and L. Santoya per C. Green in litt. 2020). A recent study estimated 155 breeding pairs at 13 sites in Cuba, mostly within the Sabana-Camagüey archipelago, plus up to 544 foraging individuals (González et al. 2016). Numbers for the Dominican Republic have not been estimated, but it is considered locally common and appears to be more common today than in the 1930s (R. Rodríguez-Mojica in litt. 2008). In Puerto Rico it is very rare (A. L. Morales per A. Cox in litt. 2020). The population size in other parts of the range is unknown. The overall population is best placed in the band 5,000-9,999 mature individuals (C. Green in litt. 2020).

Trend justification
Population trends are not well understood; certainly the species seems to be increasing in parts of its range where it is well protected and has safe nesting sites, but declines are also reported throughout much of its range (Wilson et al. 2012). The species is thought to have undergone long term declines but it may be recovering throughout parts of its range in the current day, including at sites in the USA (Meehan et al. 2018). As a result, there appears to be much localised variability in ongoing population trends (Koczur et al. 2020) and hence, the overall direction of such trends throughout the species range remain inconclusive (Partners in Flight 2019; Wetlands International 2020). In view of the ongoing threats, the population is tentatively suspected to undergo a moderate decline, not exceeding 20% over three generations.

Egretta rufescens occurs in Baja California and south along the Pacific coast of Mexico, the southern coast of the USA, through the Caribbean islands, particularly Cuba and Dominican Republic, and down the Central American coast to northern Colombia and Venezuela.

The species frequents shallow coastal waters, salt-pans, open marine flats and shorelines; it is rarely recorded away from the coast. It breeds on islands and in mangroves. It feeds mainly on small fish and crustaceans, using a variety of feeding techniques. It will breed in almost all months of the year, with seasonal peaks that vary in timings across the range. The species is partially migratory, with non-breeding birds dispersing to the south in the Caribbean and along the Pacific coast.

Populations were heavily exploited for food in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries and in Mexico, chicks are harvested and used as fishing bait (Palacios et al. 2018; Koczur et al. 2020). Today, fluctuations occur at some colonies, apparently relating to predators which can cause rapid declines; recoveries have been observed following predator control. Further threats to the species include habitat shifting and alteration from sea-level rise and subsidence, habitat degradation from recreational and commercial boating and shipping, disturbance from tourism and residential development, and coastal engineering (Wilson et al. 2012). 

Conservation Actions Underway
The species became state-listed in Florida in 2016 and has benefited from habitat protection and restoration projects funded by the Deep Water Horizon settlement. Several important breeding sites in Florida received special protections in the form of the “Critical Wildlife Area” designation. The state also developed conservation measures and permitting guidelines to help ensure appropriate mitigation when take occurs. Nineteen of the 39 breeding sites identified on the Pacific coast of Mexico occur in protected areas (Palacios and Amador-Silva 2008). Ongoing studies are underway on the Caribbean coast of Mexico and the southern USA. A Reddish Egret Conservation Action Plan was established in 2012 (Wilson et al. 2012) that focused on conserving the species throughout its range and proposing processes to identify focal colony sites and foraging areas to form key priority locations for targeted conservation action. The Reddish Egret is federally listed in Mexico as a species with special protection status (Wilson et al. 2012).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Clarify its population status in Cuba, Belize, other parts of the Caribbean and in northern South America. Implement long-term monitoring of populations to determine trends and support better conservation decision making (Wilson et al. 2012). Implement predator control at key colonies. Minimize human disturbance. Protect key habitat and foraging areas (Wilson et al. 2012). 

66-81 cm. 450 g. Polymorphic egret with dark and white phases, both of which vary. White morphs are separable from other egrets by their larger size (except E. alba), pink bill base and slate-grey legs. The two-tone bill and shaggy neck are distinctive. Dark morph birds are slate-grey with a red-brown head, neck and plumes. Juveniles are greyish brown and pale below with a largely black bill.

Text account compilers
Everest, J., Hermes, C., Wheatley, H.

Contributors
Bird, J., Bruzual, L., Butchart, S., Cox, A., Ekstrom, J., Elliott, N., Evans, M., Green, C., Kasner, A., Kushlan, J., MacKinnon, B., Melville, S., Mitchell, A., Morales, A., Palacios, B., Rodriguez, R., Santoya, L., Sharpe, C.J., Valdez, E. & Verde, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/reddish-egret-egretta-rufescens on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.