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An
egret is any of several herons, most of which are white
or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during
the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera
Egretta or Ardea which contain other species regarded
as herons rather than egrets. The distinction between
a heron and an egret is rather vague and depends more
on appearance than biology. Several of the egrets have
been moved around from one genus to another in recent
years: the Great Egret, for example, was traditionally
classified as a member of Egretta, moved to Ardea, and
then moved back again. Common names are often a more reliable
guide to egret identification. In the 19th and early part
of the 20th century, most of the world's egret species
were brought to the brink of extinction by relentless
hunting. Hat makers in Europe and the United States demanded
massive numbers of egret plumes and breeding birds were
massacred in locations all around the world. |
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An
egret is any of several herons, most of which are white
or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during
the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera
Egretta or Ardea which contain other species regarded
as herons rather than egrets. The distinction between
a heron and an egret is rather vague and depends more
on appearance than biology. Several of the egrets have
been moved around from one genus to another in recent
years: the Great Egret, for example, was traditionally
classified as a member of Egretta, moved to Ardea, and
then moved back again. Common names are often a more reliable
guide to egret identification. In the 19th and early part
of the 20th century, most of the world's egret species
were brought to the brink of extinction by relentless
hunting. |
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