Egretta Ardea Bubulcus Mesophoyx Nycticorax Nyctanassa Gorsachius Butorides Agamia Pilherodius Ardeola Syrigma Egrets (/ˈiːɡrəts/ EE-grəts) are herons, generally long-legged wading birds, that have white or buff plumage, developing fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season.

Egrets are not a biologically distinct group from herons and have the same build.

The distinction between a heron and an egret is rather vague, and depends more on appearance than biology.

In the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries, some of the world's egret species were endangered by relentless plume hunting, since hat makers in Europe and the United States demanded large numbers of egret plumes, leading to breeding birds being killed in many places around the world.

Egrets inhabit all continents; although they typically avoid the coldest regions, arid deserts, and very high mountains.