Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Little Blue Heron


I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

Wednesday, June 18, 2013

 For this week's Wild Bird I am featuring the Little Blue Heron. It is one of my favorite herons that we see here in the USA. I am showing both the adults and the juvenile.




 It always surprised me that the juvenile Little Blue Heron is white and looks more like an Egret.  The juvenile is all white, except for dark wings tips and have dull greenish legs. The juveniles also have a olive-gray bill.

 The photo above has one juvenile Little Blue Heron mixed in the the adult Little Blue Herons.



The adult Little Blue Heron has a bi-colored bill, a deep blue body with a reddish head and neck. The Little Blue Heron and the Snowy Egret are both about 24 inches tall compared to the taller Great Egret which is 38 inches tall.



Reflection of a  Little Blue Heron.


This shot shows just how tall the Great Egret is compared to the smaller Little Blue Herons. I hope you enjoyed my Wild Bird post and the lovely Herons.

Thanks for stopping by and for leaving your nice comments. I always appreciate your visits.

Join in and post your birdies and to see more beautiful and wonderful bird photos please visit:
 Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's  Nature Notes.

Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.
I wish everyone a happy week ahead and Happy Birding!

55 comments:

  1. i would LOVE to see a little blue!!!

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  2. I really like the bill! Such a unique color.

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  3. Eileen stunning photos - I always love you shots.

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  4. Oh wow, that's a special Heron, well photographed.

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  5. Glorious images Eileen. I love watching Egrets and Herons.

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  6. Hallo Eileen!!Great post!!Herons are very beautiful birds!!Exellent shots!!!I love the herons reflaction!!Have a lovely week!!Hugs!!
    Dimi..

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  7. was that rain droplets in the water in the 3rd shot or just a water splash from the birds fishing around? such pretty birds. ( :

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  8. Hello Eileen, amazing photos! Thanks to share us.Hugs Ailime

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  9. I really like your photos of the Little Blue Heron. The reflections are great as well.

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  10. Great photos of all the birds and very interesting that the juvenile is white.

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  11. Fantastic images ---The little blue herons here in our area are always such a far distance from the boardwalks. Love what you managed to capture.

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  12. Very good .. Gorgeous images of Herons..

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  13. That is an interesting post. I didn't know the juvenile was white and the egret is so much bigger. Great post and photos especially the reflection.

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  14. They are beauties!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  15. Oh what great shots! Those herons are a gorgeous colour!

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  16. Hi Eileen,
    Such lovely shots! Wonderful bird and water scenes!

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  17. What a treat to get to see the juvenile herons. Great shots.

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  18. I have seen these but have never been able to capture them. They are beautiful, and I love these shots.

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  19. I like your blog, the pictures are great, birds are always good to check out they have a feel of freedom that I find uplifting.
    Merle.....

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  20. Wonderful photos and information Eileen! I love seeing the contrast between the Little Blue Herons and the taller Great Egrets! Thanks for all your visits to my blog and all the kind comments you leave!

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  21. I learned something today I didn't realize they are white. Nice shots happy shooting.

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  22. I too, would love to see a Little Blue Heron. I've only seen the Great Blues. Your photos are wonderful.

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  23. Amazing photos Eileen, that have reminded me that on Thursday when we had the storms I was on my way home and standing in the MIDDLE of my road was a Great Blue Heron--I guess it was lost, because it wasn't hitchhiking! :-) It was one of those moments when I wished I'd had my camera, it just looked really out of place and it was!

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  24. thanks for the information Eileen; I'd have looked out there and seen an egret with herons for sure. I love the adult plumage; great photos

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  25. Hi Eileen, the white color of the juveniles seem so very far from the blue adults, i wonder at what point they suddenly change hue. Maybe they molt and suddenly the blue emerge. Or maybe there is gradual change, which is unusual.

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  26. So exciting, you got some really amazing images!!

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  27. Great shots, Eileen. I've never seen a Little Blue Heron.

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  28. cool, I did not know the juvie was white. Interesting! It is great to see tehm all together in the last shot.

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  29. Wonderful photo, Eileen! I especially like the last photo.

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  30. I love herons! Gow odd that the juvenile is white, you would expect it to be a much less conspicuous colour!

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  31. Beautiful pictures of the Herons.
    Kind regards, Irma

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  32. Yes, I enjoyed your lovely photos of the blue heron! Thanks for your explaining about the colours and the last photo was great, where you show the size of them!
    Greetings Pia

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  33. I liked the . . . "I am looking at you - you looking at me?" reflection photo. And of course . . . The Little Blue Heron would be a treat for me to see!

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  34. "juvenile Little Blue Heron is white and looks more like an Egret. " - ah, that explains why I get them confused. Great pictures.

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  35. great information!
    I love egrets and herons all.

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  36. Wonderful photos! I would never have connected those juveniles with those adults. What a surprise that the young ones are snowy white! Thanks for sharing!

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  37. I always like comparative shots that really show you the scale of a bird. Lovely captures.

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  38. Good morning Eileen, I haven't taken any bird photos this week but I love yours. That little Blue Heron is new to me.

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  39. Great captures! I once saw the juvies and adults together in a grove of trees and thought they were fighting. Later I learned it was the parents feeding their young. So interesting!

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  40. Indeed this bird is a beauty, and the Egret looks like a giant!
    We don't have the Little blue heron where I live, a pity!
    Great shots, Eileen!

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  41. Nice Heron shots and info to boot.

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  42. Excellent photos of these beautiful birds! It's interesting that the young bird is white.

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  43. Wonderful photographs, wonderful views, nature are wonderful:) Greetings

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  44. I love the blue herons reflection in the water

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  45. The Little Blue Herons are just gorgeous!

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  46. HI Eileen...Oh my goodness the reflection shot is just fabulous !!
    Herons of all sizes just wonderful photo's!!
    Grace

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  47. Great captures Eileen. It took me awhile before I knew that little blues started life all white.

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  48. Hi Eileen, Great minds... I swear, I had not seen your post on the Little Blues before I made that remark on my blog earlier today. I really love your post on these pretty/handsome birds. I have not yet seen any juveniles but likely will some day soon around here. Have a wonderful Thursday tomorrow!

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  49. Dearest Eilleen,
    Beautiful blue herons and loved the reflection as well♡♡♡ 
    When I was heading to my father's care center, there is a little creek. I sometimes find white one, but it always go away or moving around p;)
    Love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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  50. Love that first shot!! Amazing that the juveniles are such a different color.

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  51. That's awesome! I'm jealous. We don't have that one here.

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  52. Beautiful series on the heron.

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  53. You get great photos Eileen..... Michelle

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  54. Your shots are very good, I was not able to shoot a juvenile blue heron.

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