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Little Blue Heron (Immature)

Egretta caerulea

Photo by James McNair
Published on Project Noah
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28.3882, -80.6033

Field Notes

Description:

Immature Description
White, with pale, black-tipped bill and greenish legs. Enters adult plumage in the first spring after hatching and may be pied white and blue.

Notes:

I thought it was Snowy Egret at first, but blue tinge to upper beak and lack of yellow around eyes. Also slightly taller than Snowy's I am used to seeing!

Species ID Suggestions

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Reference Link
SallyMoranParker
1

Comments (5)
AshleyT
Keep in mind it is not a white morph though, Little Blue Herons are solid white as immatures.
James McNair
Thank you SallyMoranParker and AshleyT. From images I have looked up since suggestions and size as stated by Ashley it appears more like a Little Blue Heron
AshleyT
If you read my comment Sally, I already mentioned that. I also mentioned the other possibility it could be, which at this time of the year can be difficult to tell apart.
SallyMoranParker
James, the All About Birds website states that the first year Little Blue Herons are pure white. Do you think it could be that?
AshleyT
It's either an immature Little Blue Heron or a white morph Reddish Egret. I have such a hard time telling between the two, especially since it isn't breeding season yet. If it was Great Egret size, it's a Reddish Egret. The white morphs are decently common in Florida. If it was closer to Snowy Egret size, then it's a Little Blue Heron. They will start molting soon and getting in their dark feathers. Normally you could tell them apart by the bill too, but since it isn't breeding season yet they both have really dull bills.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the Southeast U.S.
Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project
Birds seen in Florida
Photographed
PublishedMarch 3, 2014

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