(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)

Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor

Identification Tips:

  1. Length: 22 inches Wingspan: 38 inches
  2. Sexes similar
  3. Medium-sized long-legged long-necked wader
  4. Bill fairly long and pointed
  5. Variably yellowish or blue-gray bill with black tip
  6. Usually holds neck in an "S" curve at rest and in flight
  7. White belly and foreneck

Adult:

  1. Blue-gray head, neck, back and upperwings
  2. White line along foreneck
  3. In alternate plumage, long blue filamentous plumes about head and neck, and buff ones on the back

Immature:

  1. Rich chestnut head and neck
  2. Chestnut feathering on blue-gray back

Similar species:

No other dark herons have a contrasting white belly.