Bird Guide

Little Blue Heron vs White-faced Heron

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)

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
White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)

White-faced Heron

Egretta novaehollandiae

Large559 gWetland

The adult white-faced heron is medium-sized for the family and mostly pale blue-grey. The forehead, crown, chin and upper throat are white. The crown pattern is variable, with the white occasionally spreading down the neck; the variability makes identification of individuals possible. The iris may be grey, green, dull yellow or cinnamon. The regions between the eye and bill on the side of the head (lores) are black. The beak is black and often pale grey at the base. Voice: The most common call of the white-faced heron is a gravelly croak or gobble, graak or graaw and is typically given in flight, in interactions or in aggressive encounters. Another call, gow, gow, gow is typically given upon returning to a nest. High pitched wrank, oooooooooh or aaarrrgh calls are given as alarm calls.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Brian Ralphs from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, UK · CC BY 2.0

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