Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Abundance:  Very Uncommon (13 records in 5 counties, 2 in Kentucky and 3 in Tennessee).

Status: Transient during spring (8 records) and fall (5 records); designated as an endangered breeding species by the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (2004); designated as in need of management by the Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage (2004); photographs (see links below).

Regional High Count: 2 (18 May 1997; Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton unpubl. data and photo).

Information on Records: 

9-14 May 1971 (1) Pickett County, Tennessee (Robbie C. Hassler; Stewart 1971; Nicholson 1982a).

5 September 1971 (1) western Pickett County, Tennessee (Robbie C. Hassler, J. David Hassler; Hassler and Hassler 1972).

29 March 1988 (1) Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman photo; Stedman 1988d).

26 May 1991 (1) Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Michael G. Beykirch; Stedman 1993).

12 August-10 September 1993 (1) Burgess Falls State Natural Area, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman et al.; Witt 1994a).

18 May 1997 (2) Pumphouse Pond, Pulaski County, Kentucky (fide Roseanna M. Denton photo and unpubl. data).

28 April 1998 (1) Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman; Fekel 1998c).

16 October 2001 (1) Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Palmer-Ball 2003).

16 April 2002 (1) Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman photo; Casteel 2002c).

21-27 August 2004 (1) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2005a).

31 July 2005 (1) Celina, Clay County, Tennessee (Terry M. Campbell; Casteel 2005d).

14 April 2006 (1) Rt. 90 1.6 km west of Pulaski County line, Wayne County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2006c).

19 March 2008 (1) Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman photo and unpubl. data).

Regional Extreme Dates: 

    Spring: 19 March 2008 (1; Putnam County, Tennessee; Stephen J. Stedman photo)-26 May 1991 (1; Putnam County, Tennessee; Michael G. Beykirch).

    Fall: 12 August 1993 (1; Putnam County, Tennessee; Stephen J. Stedman et al.)-16 October 2001 (1; Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton).

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: No registrations.

Habitat: Open shorelines of small and medium-sized lakes; inlets of larger lakes.

Remarks: The 29 March 1988 sighting in Putnam County, Tennessee, established the earliest spring arrival date for Tennessee at the time (Robinson 1990); the late fall date in Pulaski County, Kentucky, provided the second-latest fall departure date for Kentucky at the time (Palmer-Ball 2003).

Counties with Observations (boldfaced):

To see a map (Figure 1) displaying the data in the table above, click on the boldfaced word in this sentence.

Literature Cited