Mexican Bird of the Month: Snowy egret

Egretta thula

By Biól. Evelyn Martinez-Cuevas

Noviembre 11, 2026

There are stories in nature that invite us to reflect on our relationship with the surrounding environment. That of our November Bird of the Month, the Snowy Egret or Golden-slippered Egret (Egretta thula), is a narrative of beauty, vulnerability, and, above all, a resounding conservation victory.

Belonging to the Ardeidae family and evolutionarily related to pelicans, this sleek waterfowl embodies coastal elegance. However, its greatest biological trait almost compromised the entire species.

During the breeding season, adult Egretta thula develop dreamy, silky, and delicately recurved nuptial plumes on their backs. In the late 1880s, the millinery industry in Europe and the United States turned these plumes into the ultimate status symbol.

By 1886, the feathers of this egret were valued at $32 an ounce—double the price of gold at the time! Intensive hunting in nesting colonies decimated North American populations in less than two decades, pushing them to the brink of risk.

Today, the IUCN classifies the Snowy Egret under the category of Least Concern (LC). In our region, it can be admired in the Boca Negra Estuary, the coasts of Melaque, and the shores of Chapala. But the most heartwarming achievement for our community is that the Vallarta Botanical Garden has established itself as a permanent home for the species.

Walking along our trails, flanked by orchids, oaks, and the dense vegetation of the Sierra Madre del Sur, you can reach the banks of the crystal-clear Los Horcones River. It is precisely here that snowy egrets find a safe haven to feed and display their characteristic “golden shoes” among the rocks and current.

This achievement demonstrates that these conservation sanctuaries are key. Every tree planted, every microhabitat protected, and every river preserved within the VBG creates the perfect conditions for biodiversity to flourish. Join us this month, and if you are feeling lucky, venture out to spot this stunning egret along the riverbed.