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Glite Dictionary
snowy heron

snowy heron

7.0
A small white bird with a thin black bill, black legs, and yellow feet
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : garceta blanca
  • The snowy heron is easily recognized by its bright white feathers and distinctive yellow feet.

Examples

  • While birdwatching in Florida, she spotted a snowy heron along the marshy shoreline.

  • The wetland reserve provides an important habitat for the snowy heron and many other waterfowl.

  • I spotted a snowy heron near the lake.

  • The snowy herons often hunt in shallow waters.

  • The snowy heron is easily recognized by its bright white feathers and distinctive yellow feet.

  • The wetland reserve provides an important habitat for the snowy heron and many other waterfowl.

  • While birdwatching in Florida, she spotted a snowy heron along the marshy shoreline.

Synonyms

snowy egret
vssnowy heron
  • US
1 7.7

A small white bird with long black legs and bright yellow feet often found near water

focuses on slender dark bill and leg coloration for identification
Egretta thula
vssnowy heron
  • Specialized
9.9

A small white bird with thin black legs and bright yellow feet

is the common name used in ordinary speech rather than the Latin label

Surface Forms

snowy heron singular
snowy herons plural

Morphology

snowy + heron

The meaning 'a white heron' is directly and transparently built from 'snowy' (white, resembling snow) + 'heron' (a long‑necked bird), so a B1 learner who knows both words will infer it refers to a white-colored heron. This adjective+noun composition follows a standard, cross-linguistically common pattern; the taxonomic detail (egret) is additional information but does not reduce transparency.

Etymology

Snowy heron comes from the bird's bright white feathers and its bird type. The word snowy means 'like snow' and heron is a long-legged water bird, so the name tells you it is a 'white heron'.