Tri
Tricolored Heron - Juvenile
From Cornel:
Coastal estuaries are a great place to look for Tricolored Herons year-round. They tend to feed alone or at the edge of groups of other waders, so be sure to look at the lone dark bird in the corner. They also forage more commonly in open water and pools than Snowy Egrets and Little Blue Herons. Their white belly readily separates them from Little Blue Herons and Reddish Egrets, and their active foraging style separates them from the slow and methodical Great Blue Heron.
Angsty teenagers aren't just a human phenomenon. As Tricolored Herons get older they often lunge and snap at their parents when they arrive at the nest with food. To appease the youngsters, parents greet them with bows.
Their plumage changes in color rather dramatically from the juvenile stage, when they are mostly brown with blue accents, to their adult form: slate gray with mauve tones. They always have a white belly, but during the breeding season (May – July), they become even more vibrant. Tricolored Heron bills and facial skin take on a bright, cobalt blue hue and their dull, yellow legs transform into pink. Why? These coloration infusions are all about attracting a mate.
Copyright © 2019 Cornell University
Explored
Tri
Tricolored Heron - Juvenile
From Cornel:
Coastal estuaries are a great place to look for Tricolored Herons year-round. They tend to feed alone or at the edge of groups of other waders, so be sure to look at the lone dark bird in the corner. They also forage more commonly in open water and pools than Snowy Egrets and Little Blue Herons. Their white belly readily separates them from Little Blue Herons and Reddish Egrets, and their active foraging style separates them from the slow and methodical Great Blue Heron.
Angsty teenagers aren't just a human phenomenon. As Tricolored Herons get older they often lunge and snap at their parents when they arrive at the nest with food. To appease the youngsters, parents greet them with bows.
Their plumage changes in color rather dramatically from the juvenile stage, when they are mostly brown with blue accents, to their adult form: slate gray with mauve tones. They always have a white belly, but during the breeding season (May – July), they become even more vibrant. Tricolored Heron bills and facial skin take on a bright, cobalt blue hue and their dull, yellow legs transform into pink. Why? These coloration infusions are all about attracting a mate.
Copyright © 2019 Cornell University
Explored