Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
The Little Blue Heron is a patient Florida wetland hunter with dramatic color changes between juvenile and adult plumage.
The Little Blue Heron is a patient Florida wetland hunter with dramatic color changes between juvenile and adult plumage.
Adults are slate blue with a purple-maroon head and neck, dark bill tip, and greenish legs. Juveniles are white and gradually become mottled blue.
Walks slowly through shallow water and uses deliberate movements to stalk prey. Often nests in mixed colonies.
Harmless to people. Avoid approaching rookeries and never feed wild wading birds.
Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and listed as State Threatened in Florida. Active nests, eggs, and birds must not be disturbed.
Habitat:
Freshwater Wetlands, Lakes and Ponds, Canals and Ditches, Estuaries and Bays, Mangroves and Salt Marshes
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
Small fish, frogs, crayfish, shrimp, insects, and other aquatic animals.
Behavior:
Walks slowly through shallow water and uses deliberate movements to stalk prey. Often nests in mixed colonies.
Daytime
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Daylight hours along quiet wetland edges
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
State Threatened in Florida
Safety Level:
Observe From a Distance
Safety Information:
Harmless to people. Avoid approaching rookeries and never feed wild wading birds.
Benefits to Property:
Helps regulate small fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates in ponds and wetlands.
Property Concerns:
Disturbance, wetland drainage, shoreline mowing, and contaminated runoff threaten feeding and nesting areas.
Fun Fact:
Young birds are completely white, which helps them blend into feeding groups of white egrets.
Wildlife Laws:
Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and listed as State Threatened in Florida. Active nests, eggs, and birds must not be disturbed.
Identification:
Adults are slate blue with a purple-maroon head and neck, dark bill tip, and greenish legs. Juveniles are white and gradually become mottled blue.