Little Blue Heron

[Donkees]

3. ''Age Related Color Morphs of Little Blue Herons''

Juvenile Little Blue Herons are white after they hatch and will gradually obtain their “blue” plumage through molts.

The photo above was taken at Roosevelt Wetland, Pinellas County, Florida on June 28, 2008. This young Little Blue Heron was hatched earlier that year and was out in the wetlands hunting on its own when it flew up into a dead tree.

Juvenile Little Blue Herons can be mistaken for Snowy Egrets but their greenish legs, blue gray loral skin (near the eyes) and bicolored bills can be used to differentiate between the two species. To a lesser degree they are also confused with Cattle Egrets by novices in bird identification.

It is thought that juvenile Little Blue Herons are accepted more than the adults by the more aggressive Snowy Egrets because of their white plumage which may give them an advantage in the first year of their lives for obtaining food.

There are times later in their hatch year when juvenile Little Blue Herons will show spots of “blue” on their outer primaries, or flight feathers.



The photo above was also taken at Roosevelt Wetland, Pinellas County, Florida on June 28, 2008 and shows a Little Blue Heron that was hatched the previous year in 2007.

This phase or Formative Plumage is often called Pied, Piebald or Calico because of the mix of white and bluish plumage. The amount of white and blue plumage can vary widely in Little Blue Herons at this stage in their lives.

https://www.onthewingphotography.com/wings/2017/03/22/age-related-color-morphs-of-little-blue-herons/