A reddish egret hunts in Fort De Soto Park, Florida, USA

Let's dance. Dance of the egret

This reddish egret might be dancing like nobody’s watching – but at this popular bird-watching site in Florida, USA, it’s likely to have a sizeable audience. The bird has a reputation for energetic feeding behaviour that resembles a frenetic dance. As it stalks its prey in shallow water, the reddish egret prances, staggers and leaps, while positioning its wings to block the glare of the sun as it boldly stabs at fish.

It’s one of many species that make Florida a year-round delight for bird-watching. Our homepage egret was photographed at Fort De Soto Park, a gateway site for the Great Florida Birding Trail, a collection of more than 500 sites where bird habitat is protected. During winter, many migratory bird species fly to Florida where they join year-round residents like the reddish egret, making winter a fruitful season here for bird-watchers.