ML90788321
Contributor
David Simpson Media from this contributor Profile
Date
Location
Platt's Creek Preserve
St. Lucie, Florida, United States
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist- Age and sex
- Adult, Unknown sex - X
Media notes
Swarovski 95mm iPhone 6s Plus Phoneskope
Observation details
Most common Heron of the day. A group of seven were seen flying overhead at one point. Adults are solid blue unlike the grayish-blue of Great Blue Herons. Base of bill and lores turn bright blue in breeding condition. Immature birds’ feathers are all white for the first 16-18 months of life. These birds can be difficult to distinguish from white egrets like Snowy Egret and Cattle Egret. Young Little Blue Herons, like adults, have greenish legs and blue-green base of dark bill. In midsummer of the second year of life, young Little Blue Herons will molt into the blue of adults. Blue color usually comes in patches resulting in blotchy blue and white herons.
Technical information
- Original file size
- 5.68 MB