Breeding birds may have a reddish or black bill, greenish yellow gape skin, loose filamentous plumes on their breast and back, and dull yellow or pink on their upper legs (regional variations).

[6] The medium egret has non-breeding colours which are similar to other white egrets, but the intermediate is smaller, with neck length a little less than body length, a slightly domed head, and a shorter, thicker bill.

Breeding birds have long nuptial plumes on the back of their heads.

[7] The medium egret stalks its prey methodically in shallow coastal or fresh water, including flooded fields.

It often nests in colonies with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs.

The eggs hatch asynchronously, after hatching the adults brood the semialtricial young for 12 days, defending the nests from aerial predators during both incubation and brooding, they crouch over the nest and raise their plumes and point their bill towards the threat.

In Africa and Australia they are reported to be quite successful breeders with 96% and 88% of nests fledging at least a single chick.