Medium Egret

In the U.S. we have our white egrets: The snowy egret, cattle egret and great egret. I go internationally and see what I think is a snowy egret, and the guide says, "little egret." What? In India recently I saw what I figured was a great egret and the guide says, "medium egret." What? In Kaziranga NP in Assam, India I got photos of two medium egrets, one in the Central Range and one in the Western Range. The first time I've seen them or even heard of them. 

Medium egret in the Central Range.

Medium egret in the Western Range.

What was known as the intermediate egret had three recognized subspecies which in 2023 were each raised to species status. They were: (a) the yellow-billed egret of sub-Saharan Africa; (b) the intermediate egret of Asia to Eastern Russia, to Japan to India to the Greater Sundas; and (c) the plumed egret of eastern Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia. The intermediate egret subspecies was re-named the medium egret species. It differs from the yellow-billed egret species in that it has a black bill in breeding plumage (instead of a yellow bill) and has black at the top of the legs compared to reddish in the yellow-billed egret. 

The medium egret in breeding plumage from Birds of the World (also below flying).

In non-breeding plumage (yellow bill) from Birds of the World.

Medium egret range from Birds of the World. From the map it looks like it is a year-round species in Assam, India. 

The great egret is larger and has a noticeable kink in the middle of the neck. The medium egret has a slightly domed head and a shorter, thicker bill. Little (and snowy) egrets are smaller and have yellow-soled feet and black bills.