The great egret (Ardea alba) has four subspecies, with the smallest, Ardea alba modesta, inhabiting shallow water bodies, wetlands, and grasslands in Sri Lanka. This large waterbird is characterised by its white plumage and long grey-black legs, and is often seen alone or in small flocks. The great egret has a varied diet, feeding on fish, aquatic invertebrates and small reptiles. During the breeding season, this species builds nest platforms in trees, where it lays a clutch of up to six eggs.