Tricolored heron

Tricolored heron
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Pelecaniformes
Family:Ardeidae
Genus:Egretta
Species: E. tricolor
Binomial name
Egretta tricolor
Range of E. tricolor      Breeding range     Year-round range     Wintering range

The tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor), formerly known as the Louisiana heron, is a small species of heron that is native to coastal parts of the Americas. In the Atlantic region in ranges from northeastern United States, south along the coast, through the Mexican Gulf and the Caribbean, to northern South America as far south as Brazil. In the Pacific region it ranges from Peru to California, but it is only a non-breeding visitor to the far north.

Tricolored heron's breed in swamps and other coastal habitats. It nests in colonies, often with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. In each clutch, 3–7 eggs are typically laid.

This species measures from 56 to 76 cm (22 to 30 in) long and has a wingspan of 96 cm (38 in).[2] The slightly larger male heron weighs 415 g (14.6 oz) on average, while the female averages 334 g (11.8 oz).[3] It is a medium-large, long-legged, long-necked heron with a long pointed yellowish or greyish bill with a black tip. The legs and feet are dark.

Adults have a blue-grey head, neck, back and upperwings, with a white line along the neck. The belly is white. In breeding plumage, they have long blue filamentous plumes on the head and neck, and buff ones on the back.

The tricolored heron stalks its prey in shallow or deeper water, often running as it does so. It eats fish, crustaceans, reptiles, and insects.

References

Notes
  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Egretta tricolor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Tricolored Heron". All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
  3. ↑ "Biological and Ecotoxicological Characteristics of Terrestrial Vertebrate Species Residing in Estuaries: Tricolored Heron". USGS.
Sources
  • Hilty, Steven L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5.
  • Field Guide to the Birds of North America. National Geographic. ISBN 0-7922-6877-6.
  • Stiles, F. Gary; Skutch, Alexander F. (1989). A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Comstock Publishing Associates. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4.
  • Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
  • Tricolored heron photos at Field Guide: Birds of the World on Flickr
  • Tricolored heron Bird Sound at Florida Museum of Natural History
  • "Tricolored heron media". Internet Bird Collection.
  • Tricolored heron photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
  • Tricolored Heron species account at NeotropicalBirds (Cornell University)
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