The Little Egret is a small, elegant white heron with a slender black bill, long black legs and bright yellow feet, often called “golden slippers.” These striking yellow feet help make it one of the easiest herons to identify. 

The Little Egret is widespread across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. It lives in a variety of wetland habitats, including marshes, lagoons, estuaries, saltpans, riverbanks and shallow coastal waters.

In Malta, it is a common visitor during spring and autumn migration. It is regularly seen at Għadira Nature Reserve and Salina Nature Reserve, as well as along the coastline. Individual birds are often spotted feeding in shallow water, while larger flocks can be seen resting on small islets, rocky outcrops and sheltered coastal areas.

Little Egrets are active hunters. They often walk or run through shallow water, sometimes up to their belly, using their bright yellow feet to stir up fish and other prey before catching them with their sharp bill.

Their diet consists mainly of small fish, crustaceans, amphibians, aquatic insects and molluscs. They are known for their active hunting behaviour, using techniques such as foot-stirring to flush prey out of the mud or shallow water.