Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) Continued: The photos on this page are all of the Snowy Egret with his breeding plumage. They were all taken in Orange County, Florida. Note in the top two pictures, that the skin above his bill is starting to change color. Now look at the fourth image and you will see the color as it is during the height of breeding. I know it looks like he's windblown, but that is just the way the breeding plumage sticks out. Marvelous, isn't it? No wonder his plumes were so widely sought for ladies hats in the nineteenth century.