Little Blue Heron vs Tricolored Heron

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Large339 gWetland

Males and females have the same coloration. The adults are darkly colored, with purple-maroon heads and blue bodies. During the breeding season, their heads turn dark red. They have two-toned bills, which are a light blue at the base, with black tips. Their eyes are yellow and their legs are greenish. Juveniles are almost completely white, although the upper primaries are somewhat dark in color. Like adults, their bills are two-toned. Immature birds transitioning from the juvenile to adult phase have a combination of light and dark feathers.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Korall · CC BY 3.0

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Large372 gCoastal

This species measures from 56 to 76 cm (22 to 30 in) long and has a typical wingspan of 96 cm (38 in). The slightly larger male heron weighs 415 g (14.6 oz) on average, while the female averages 334 g (11.8 oz). It is a medium-large, long-legged, long-necked heron with a long, pointed, yellowish or greyish bill with a black tip. In breeding plumage, some individuals will develop a stark bicolored bill which is blue and black at the tip. Its legs and feet turn from dark yellow in nonbreeding birds to pink in breeding adults.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Christian Mehlführer, User:Chmehl · CC BY 2.5

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Little Blue Heron and Tricolored Heron.