(id, caption) |
(Picture of juvenile in flight. C/right. References updated) |
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− | [[Image:Little_Blue_Heron.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Adult<br /> Photo by {{user|David+Roach|David Roach}}<br /> | + | [[Image:Little_Blue_Heron.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Adult<br /> Photo © by {{user|David+Roach|David Roach}}<br />Broward County Park, South [[Florida]]]] |
;[[:Category:Egretta|Egretta]] caerulea | ;[[:Category:Egretta|Egretta]] caerulea | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
Sexes similar | Sexes similar | ||
====Breeding Adult==== | ====Breeding Adult==== | ||
− | [[Image:Little blue heron 2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile, First Spring<br /> Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />[[Big Cypress National Preserve]], [[Florida]], [[USA]], April 2008]] | + | [[Image:Little blue heron 2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile, First Spring<br /> Photo © by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />[[Big Cypress National Preserve]], [[Florida]], [[USA]], April 2008]] |
*Blue-grey body | *Blue-grey body | ||
*Purplish head and neck | *Purplish head and neck | ||
Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
For the adult, the two-toned bill helps separating from [[Reddish Egret]]. The white juvenile can be mistaken for [[Cattle Egret]], [[Snowy Egret]] and [[Little Egret]]. | For the adult, the two-toned bill helps separating from [[Reddish Egret]]. The white juvenile can be mistaken for [[Cattle Egret]], [[Snowy Egret]] and [[Little Egret]]. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
− | [[Image:Image1546.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Immature<br />Photo by {{user|Kadawe|Kadawe}}<br />Gloucester, [[Massachusetts]], July 2016]] | + | [[Image:Image1546.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Immature<br />Photo © by {{user|Kadawe|Kadawe}}<br />Gloucester, [[Massachusetts]], July 2016]] |
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. | 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. | ||
Line 37: | Line 37: | ||
Swamps, flooded grasslands and lagoons, also coastal habitats in some areas. | Swamps, flooded grasslands and lagoons, also coastal habitats in some areas. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
− | |||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
They nest in colonies, often with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. The clutch consists of 3-7 light blue eggs. | They nest in colonies, often with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. The clutch consists of 3-7 light blue eggs. | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
Their diet consists of slow moving, bottom feeding shellfish, crustaceans and insects such as dragonflies. | Their diet consists of slow moving, bottom feeding shellfish, crustaceans and insects such as dragonflies. | ||
+ | ==Gallery== | ||
+ | Click on photo for larger image | ||
+ | <gallery> | ||
+ | Image:Little Blue Heron4.JPG|Photo © by {{user|bhowdy|bhowdy}}<br />[[Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge]], South Newport, [[Georgia]], [[USA]], June 2008 | ||
+ | Image:D5B7FE68-A513-42F1-95BE-514121F4CFBA.jpeg|Juvenile<br />Photo © by {{user|Waltbulmer|Waltbulmer}}<br />Bozman [[Maryland]] county, October 2018 | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
− | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2016) |
#Wikipedia | #Wikipedia | ||
#BF Member observations | #BF Member observations |
Revision as of 01:09, 18 December 2018
- Egretta caerulea
Identification
Height 51–76 cm (20-30 in)
Ws. 102 cm
Weight 325 g
Sexes similar
Breeding Adult
- Blue-grey body
- Purplish head and neck
- Long blue plumes
- Dark blue legs and feet
Non-breeding Adult
- Dark blue head and neck
- Paler legs
Immature
- All white except for dark wing tips and have
- Yellowish or greenish legs
Gradually acquire blue plumage as they mature. Will usually start the process during their first year of life and be completed when they are a little more than 1 year old.
Similar species
For the adult, the two-toned bill helps separating from Reddish Egret. The white juvenile can be mistaken for Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret and Little Egret.
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.
Occurs throughout the West Indies and in Mexico breeds on both coasts and south to Panama. In South America ranges south to northern Chile in the west and Uruguay in the east.
Northern birds migrate south to winter in Florida, the West Indies and South America.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Swamps, flooded grasslands and lagoons, also coastal habitats in some areas.
Behaviour
Breeding
They nest in colonies, often with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. The clutch consists of 3-7 light blue eggs.
Diet
Their diet consists of slow moving, bottom feeding shellfish, crustaceans and insects such as dragonflies.
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
Photo © by bhowdy
Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, South Newport, Georgia, USA, June 2008Juvenile
Photo © by Waltbulmer
Bozman Maryland county, October 2018
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2016)
- Wikipedia
- BF Member observations
- Alvaro Jaramillo. 2003. Birds of Chile. Princeton Field Guides. ISBN 0-691-11740-3
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Little Blue Heron. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Little_Blue_Heron
External Links