Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 22–29.1 in
56–74 cm - Wingspan
- 39.4–41.3 in
100–105 cm - Weight
- 10.4–14.5 oz
296–412 g
Other Names
- Petit héron bleu, Aigrette bleue, Crabier bleu (French)
- Garza azul, Garceta azul (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The Snowy Egret tolerates the close proximity of white Little Blue Herons more than that of dark Little Blue Herons. A white Little Blue Heron catches more fish in the company of Snowy Egrets than when alone. This relationship may be one reason why young Little Blue Herons stay white for a year.
- Another advantage of white plumage is that young Little Blue Herons are more readily able to integrate into mixed-species flocks of white herons, thus gaining a measure of protection against predators.
Habitat
Marsh
Swamps, estuaries, rivers, ponds, and lakes.
Food
Fish
Small fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–6 eggs
- Egg Description
- Pale bluish green.
- Condition at Hatching
- Covered in white down; eyes partially open and can hold head up just after hatching.
Nest Description
A platform of long sticks, lined with green vegetation. Nests in colonies with other herons. Nest placed in trees or shrubs.
Nest Placement
Tree
Behavior
Stalking
In courtship, male points bill straight upward and suddenly extends and withdraws neck.Forages slowly and methodically, walking slowly, peering, and moving along to a new spot.
Conservation
Least Concern
Declining in much of its range in the United States. Because it does not bear long showy plumes in breeding adult plumage, the Little Blue Heron largely escaped serious population declines from feather hunting for the millinery trade. Habitat loss and human-caused changes in local water dynamics are the most serious threats.
Credits
- Rodgers, J. A., Jr., and H. T. Smith. 1995. Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea). In The Birds of North America, No. 145 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.