Little Blue Heron
Photographed in the wild,
Naples, Florida Feb 2007
Kissimmee, Florida Mar 2011
The Little Blue Heron is about two
feet tall. Its body
and wings are slate blue, and has a dull purple head and neck. Its long bill is
greyish-blue at the base and black at the tip. Little Blues have light green
legs, and yellow eyes. The Little Blue does not stand and wait for its
food but paces in shallow water for insects, fish and crabs.
When it is young, it has white plumage. This helps it
blend in with Ibises, Snowy Egrets and Great Egrets. The real giveaway is the
Snow’s black legs and yellow feet. The immature Little Blue has pale green
legs and feet. It takes about a year for the bird to gradually change from
white to blue.
Often adults are confused with the
Tri-coloured Heron,
they look similar from the back. But from the front you'll see that the
Tri-coloured Heron has a white belly.
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