Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
The Tricolored Heron is an agile Florida wader known for its slate-blue back, white belly, and energetic fishing style.
The Tricolored Heron is an agile Florida wader known for its slate-blue back, white belly, and energetic fishing style.
A slender heron with a blue-gray back, white belly, reddish neck, long bill, and yellow-green legs. Breeding adults show brighter facial color and wispy plumes.
Forages actively in shallow water, often moving quickly, crouching low, or spreading its wings while pursuing fish.
Harmless to people. Stay back from feeding birds and nesting colonies, and keep dogs away from shoreline roosts.
Protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and listed as State Threatened in Florida. Do not harass birds or disturb nests, eggs, or colonies.
Habitat:
Freshwater Wetlands, Estuaries and Bays, Mangroves and Salt Marshes
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
Small fish, shrimp, aquatic insects, tadpoles, and other wetland prey.
Behavior:
Forages actively in shallow water, often moving quickly, crouching low, or spreading its wings while pursuing fish.
Daytime
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Morning and late afternoon in shallow coastal or freshwater wetlands
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
State Threatened in Florida
Safety Level:
Observe From a Distance
Safety Information:
Harmless to people. Stay back from feeding birds and nesting colonies, and keep dogs away from shoreline roosts.
Benefits to Property:
Consumes small aquatic animals and provides strong wildlife-viewing value around healthy wetlands.
Property Concerns:
Shoreline clearing, polluted runoff, human disturbance, and loss of nesting colonies reduce habitat quality.
Fun Fact:
Unlike many herons that wait motionless, it often runs and darts through shallow water after prey.
Wildlife Laws:
Protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and listed as State Threatened in Florida. Do not harass birds or disturb nests, eggs, or colonies.
Identification:
A slender heron with a blue-gray back, white belly, reddish neck, long bill, and yellow-green legs. Breeding adults show brighter facial color and wispy plumes.