Tricolored Heron Picture Gallery
The Tricolored Heron
is one of the most beautiful of the wading birds, particularly in its
mating plumage. Generally identified by its white underbelly area, its
coloration can cause confusion with the much larger great blue heron or
the slightly smaller little blue heron. Part of the uncertainty may
result from the differing hunting techniques it has developed; it will
stealthily stalk, motionlessly waiting for an opportunity to strike its
prey along the shoreline and it will also chase wildly through the flats
in pursuit of a good meal.
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel single lens reflex
(dSLR) camera was employed for most of the bird photos below. It was
equipped with a Sigma zoom lens 200-500 mm, sometimes with a 1.4
tele-extender.
All photos on the page are downsized and compressed for loading speed.
The high resolution 6.3 megapixel images are archived offline.
A click on each picture brings
up a larger image. Use your BACK button to return to this page.
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The tricolored heron has
several colorations: a striking upper-blue version (L) and a
grayish-blue (upper M & R) that is more commonly seen.
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The reddish colorations
pictured above may indicate adolescent birds. |
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Pictured above are tricolored
herons at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge |
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Picture sequence shows a
tricolored heron moving rapidly through the water and opening
wings. It is not known if the extended wings provide shade to
lure fish or allow better underwater views for the heron. |
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Front and back views |
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Tricolored heron reddish-brown
back plumes (L) and white underbelly (R). |
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Tricolored heron hunts on the
top of canal vegetation in Fakahatchee Strand |
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Tricolored Heron Breeding Plumage
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The Tricolored-Heron has
striking breeding plumage including a blue bill with black tip,
wine-colored legs/feet and deeper coloration of buff-colored
plumes on its back. Although a patient
hunter with stealthy skills at the water's edge (shown in
pictures above), the tricolored heron will also move rapidly,
run and use its wings, similar to the reddish egret, when
fishing in shallow off-shore waters (pictures below). |
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Tricolored Heron portrait in
breeding plumage. |
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