The Great White Heron (Ardea occidentalis) is a large wading bird with a completely white plumage. It is found in shallow wetlands in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, especially in southern Florida and Cuba. It feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans and amphibians.

The Great White Heron was originally described as a separate species from the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), which has a grey-blue plumage and occurs throughout North America. However, later studies considered it a subspecies of the Great Blue Heron, based on the observation that the two forms interbreed where they meet in Florida Bay. The hybrid offspring have intermediate plumage colors and are known as “Würdemann’s Herons”.

However, recent research has challenged this view and suggested that the Great White Heron should be recognized as a distinct species again. This is based on several lines of evidence, including morphological, behavioral and genetic differences between the two forms. For example, the Great White Heron has a shorter occipital plume but longer bill, tarsus and middle toe than the Great Blue Heron. It also prefers saltwater habitats and islands, while the Great Blue Heron inhabits fresh or brackish water and mainland areas. Furthermore, the Great White Heron shows assortative mating, meaning that it prefers to mate with other white herons rather than blue ones, even when both are available. Genetic analysis also reveals that the two forms are genetically distinct and have diverged for a long time.

Therefore, based on these findings, some authorities have accepted the Great White Heron as a separate species from the Great Blue Heron. However, this is not yet widely accepted by all taxonomic sources, and more research is needed to confirm the status of this enigmatic bird.

The Great White Heron faces several threats to its survival and conservation. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, but some regional populations are more vulnerable than others. For example, in New Zealand, it is considered Nationally Critical, with only one breeding colony of about 100-120 birds in the Okarito Lagoon on the west coast of the South Island. The colony is protected by a wildlife reserve and a strict no-entry zone, but it is still exposed to natural disasters, such as floods, storms and earthquakes, as well as human disturbance and predation by introduced mammals.

In other parts of its range, the Great White Heron suffers from habitat loss and degradation due to drainage, pollution, development and agriculture. It is also hunted for its feathers, meat and eggs, or persecuted as a competitor for fish. In some areas, it is affected by diseases, such as avian botulism and avian cholera. Climate change may also pose a threat to the species by altering its habitat and food availability.

Conservation actions for the Great White Heron include monitoring its population trends and distribution, protecting and restoring its wetland habitats, enforcing legal protection and hunting regulations, raising public awareness and education, and supporting international cooperation and agreements. Some successful conservation initiatives have been implemented in various countries, such as the United States, where the species has recovered from near-extinction in the late 19th century due to plume hunting, or the United Kingdom, where it has colonized new breeding sites since the 1990s due to climate warming. However, more research is needed to understand the ecology, behavior and genetics of this species, especially in relation to its taxonomic status and hybridization with the Great Blue Heron.