From Opus

Egretta caerulea

Adult. Photo by David Roach at Broward County Park, South Florida.

Juvenile. Photo by bobsofpa.

[edit] Identification

Height 60 cm
Ws. 102 cm
Weight 325 g

Sexes similar

[edit] Breeding Adult

• Blue-grey body
• Purplish head and neck
• Long blue plumes
• Dark blue legs and feet

[edit] Non-breeding Adult

• Dark blue head and neck
• Paler legs

[edit] Immature

• All white except for dark wing tips and have
• Yellowish legs

Gradually acquire blue plumage as they mature.

[edit] Distribution

Found along east coast north to Massachusetts, along the Mississippi north to Missouri, and to about 15o miles north of the Gulf Coast. Regularly found 300 miles north of breeding range. Rare vagrant north of that. Also found in the West Indies, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Uruguay.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Swamps, flooded grasslands and lagoons, also coastal habitats in some areas.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

It nests in colonies, often with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. 3-7 light blue eggs are laid.

[edit] Diet

Includes fish, crustaceans and insects.

[edit] External Links