[Morag2]

I have been searching some of my old pictures and trying to identify them. So I found 3 pictures of 3 different Heron's, but all similar looking. They seem to be Great Blue Heron's... except for one problem they have no "Yellow Daggerlike Beak". They have grey beaks.

Can Great Blue's have grey beaks or are they always yellow? If these are not GBH's then what are they?

P.S. - Taken in summer in South-Western Canada (2 on the coast, 1 about 800 miles inland.

[Dave B Smith]

Center bird is a juvenile and they have a darker bill. Can't say for sure on the others. Yes, they are GBH's.

[Morag2]

Originally Posted by Dave B Smith

Center bird is a juvenile and they have a darker bill. Can't say for sure on the others. Yes, they are GBH's.

Thanks, I appreciate it. And if that bird was a juvenile last year when I took the shot... I look forward to finding it this year! :)

[AlexC]

Originally Posted by Morag2

Thanks, I appreciate it. And if that bird was a juvenile last year when I took the shot... I look forward to finding it this year! :)

I'm gonna say... wear and tear? First of all, no two GBHs are going to be picture-perfect - plus, it's more useful to look at how heavy the bill is than the coloration from a certain angle with possible weird sunlight, anyway. Your first pic is backlit, so it's not easy to make color judgements there, and your third pic is, well, at least a little yellow.