The Urban Snowy Egret

The Snowy Egret, Egretta thula, is a migratory bird and has its breeding habitat in large inland and coastal wetlands, extending from Lower Great Lakes and Southwestern United States to South America - see map below:

wikimedia commons map -egret

In the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Snowy Egret plays an important role in the control of the populations of fish, crustaceans, insects and small reptiles - and why not also say: it adds more beauty and harmony to the landscape.

wikimedia commons - Egretta thula

Because this bird is so integrated to the urban scenery of the town, it has become one of the symbols of the Wonderful City.
The carioca (native of Rio) egret is a resident bird and does not migrate to other cities ...... but who would?

Check here the musings of a carioca citizen on native snowy egrets for O Globo (in Portuguese).