Please help with id (1 Viewer)

C

chardae

Member

• Dec 10, 2003

• #1

I thought this was a reddish egret but it has been suggested to me that it is a heron. In researching I found that reddish egrets can be confused with little blue herons.

This was taken in New Smyrna Beach, Florida in October.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

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  Beachcomber.jpg

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Michael Frankis

conehead

• Dec 10, 2003

• #2

I'd agree with Reddish Egret, probably a second-year immature bird (an adult would have a pink basal half of the bill, just starting to show on this bird).

Michael

 

D

Dave B Smith

Well-known member

• Dec 10, 2003

• #3

Looks like a dark phase Reddish Egret to me also. The bill looks like that of a Little Blue but Michael's explanation covers that.The legs of this bird are very dark which also points to Reddish Egret.

The other great way to distinguish these two is by their feeding habit. An egret will race around / dance as it chases food while the Heron tends to stalk and spends a lot of time almost motionless.

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Dec 10, 2003

• #4

Reddish Egret. Also, very shaggy about the head and neck. LBlue is primmer.

 

C

chardae

Member

• Dec 11, 2003

• #5

Thanks to all for clearing this up for me--I don't have to label the photo "Beachcomber" anymore!