The Great Egret (Ardea alba) is the largest of the herons. It is much slimmer and thinner than the Grey Heron, which it even exceeds in size. Its very long neck forms a characteristic S shape at rest, with a break in the middle. Its plumage is entirely white. As the breeding season approaches, long ornamental feathers called “egrets” appear on the egret’s back, lower neck, and breast. They are used as a seductive element during courtship. Highly sought after in the 1920s, these feathers nearly caused the extinction of the species.