Little blue heron

Young birds are all white except for dark wing tips and have dull greenish legs. They gradually acquire blue plumage as they mature. This bird's breeding habitat is sub-tropical swamps. White little blue herons often mingle with snowy egrets. The snowy egret tolerates their presence more than little blue herons in adult plumage. These young birds actually catch more fish when in the presence of the snowy egret and also gain a measure of protection from predators when they mix into flocks of white herons. It is plausible that because of these advantages, they remain white for their first year.