General Description: Little Blue Herons (Egretta caerulea) are medium-sized egrets that occur in two morphs: dark and all white. In both morphs, the bill is distinctly two-toned (bluish with a black tip), and the legs are pale or yellowish. The feeding style is slow and deliberate.

In the adult dark morph, Little Blue Herons are blue-gray overall, including the belly, although the head and neck may show a bit of purple or reddish. In the juvenile light morph, they are all white, except for the two-toned bill and the legs are yellowish.

Compare with Reddish Egrets, which can have a similar adult color pattern. However, Reddish Egrets show a quite shaggy appearance, and the base of the two-toned bill is pink.

Taxonomy: Pelecaniformes, Ardeidae.

Favored Habitat: Freshwater and saltwater ponds, marshes, and mudflats. Sometimes feed in grassy areas.

Where to Find: Don't look for Little Blue Herons around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them along the Gulf and US east coast during winter, and a bit farther inland during summer. Ding Darling NWR, the City of Dunedin, and Everglades National Park are good places to see these birds. Also look for them on the Pacific and Gulf coasts of Mexico, throughout the Caribbean region and Central America, and coastal and mountainous areas of South America. Wanders north into California.

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