A Perched Little blue Heron

The little blue heron is a small heron belonging to the family Ardeidae.
These herons breed in the Gulf states of the United States, through... more

by Lisa Wooten

Title

A Perched Little blue Heron

Artist

Lisa Wooten

Medium

Photograph - Photographs

Description

The little blue heron is a small heron belonging to the family Ardeidae.
These herons breed in the Gulf states of the United States, through Central America and the Caribbean south to Peru and Uruguay. It is a resident breeder in most of its range, but some northern breeders migrate to the southeastern US or beyond in winter. There is post-breeding dispersal to well north of the nesting range, as far as the Canada–US border.
This species is about 64–76 cm long, with a 102 cm wingspan, and weighs 325 g It is a medium-large, long-legged heron with a long pointed pale blue or greyish bill with a darker or black tip. The body is more elongated than in Snowy Egret.Breeding adult birds have blue-grey plumage except for the head and neck, which are purplish and have long blue filamentous plumes. The legs and feet are dark blue/green or greenish.[4] The sexes are similar.[5] Non-breeding adults have dark blue head and neck plumage and paler legs. Young birds are all white in their first year, except for dark wing tips and have dull greenish legs. In their first spring or first summer they gradually acquire the adults' dark plumage.
This species is rather similar to the much larger and bigger-billed Reddish Egret. Immature Little Blues are similar to immature Snowy Egrets. Wikipedia

Uploaded

October 1st, 2022