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Sounds
Vocalizations
Development
Weak, scratchy hee-hee-hee food-begging call (Rodgers and Smith 1995) given by age 1 d. By age of 2–4 wk, hee-hee-hee much stronger; deeper and scratchier than other Egretta species. Begging calls usually 3-parted, emitted when parents at nest or in view. No evidence of vocal learning.
Vocal Array
Little studied, casual observations only. Mostly silent. Meyerriecks (1960) listed several vocalizations; difficult to consolidate other descriptions with his.
Most common vocalization throaty described variously as awwwwh; AWWH-uhh; a wwh-UHHH; awwwh-UNH, awwwh-UNH-UNH, AWW-unh; or even aa-gua (Fig. 3). This sound heard on foraging grounds and given by adults departing colony following nest relief. Very soft awwh calls accompany nest relief ceremonies and probably some courtship activities when birds are close together. Allen (1955) noted low “chicken-like” notes of a pair in intense courtship. See also Greeting Call of Little Blue Heron (Rodgers and Smith 1995).
Other vocalizations include raah (associated with direct attacks); crog or crog-crog and arg (associated with courtship and agonistic encounters). Meyerreicks (1960) mentioned only arg-arg (by presumed male) as nonaerial vocalization and possible advertising call.
Food-begging call performed only by nestlings and dependent fledglings.
Geographic Variation
No variation described.
Phenology
Little information on annual pattern. Primary vocalizations most common during nesting season, but may be heard throughout year on foraging areas.
Daily Pattern
No information.
Places Of Vocalizing
Little information. See above.
Repertoire And Delivery Of Songs
No information.
Social Context And Presumed Functions
See above. Little studied.
Nonvocal Sounds
Bill-Snapping
(see Behavior: agonistic behavior, below). Bill-Snapping produces “flat snapping sound” (Allen 1955: 26); bill snapped loudly once or more during pursuit of second bird; primarily agonistic, occurs on foraging grounds or near nesting colonies, especially during Pursuit Flights (Meyerriecks 1960, see Behavior, below).
Bill-Clappering
(see Mock 1976; homologous to bill-nibbling in Little Blue Heron [Rodgers 1980]). Bill opened slightly, then closed quickly to make dry popping or clacking sound, essentially inaudible at 10 m. Bill-Clappering typically involves both members of pair together during courtship, at nest, or on foraging area; birds typically stand very close together, but may be 1–2 m apart, alternately perform Bill-Clappering to each other. Bill-Clappering directed toward nest during incubation when returning following disturb-ance, or to large nestlings. Clearly a close-range contact sound.
Lowther, Peter E. and Richard T. Paul. 2002. Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/633
