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Avery Island Little Blue Heron

Cornell All About Birds says this about Little Blue Herons: "A small, dark heron arrayed in moody blues and purples, the Little Blue Heron is a common but inconspicuous resident of marshes and estuaries in the Southeast. Little Blue Herons may gain a survival advantage by wearing white during their first year of life. Immature birds are likelier than their blue elders to be tolerated by Snowy Egrets—and in the egrets’ company, they catch more fish. Mingling in mixed-species flocks of white herons, immature Little Blue Herons probably also acquire extra protection against predators. With their patchy white-and-blue appearance, Little Blue Herons in transition from the white first-year stage to blue adult plumage are often referred to as “Calico,” “Pied,” or “Piebald.” A row of built-in “teeth” along the Little Blue Heron’s middle toe serves as a grooming comb. The bird uses this handy tool to scratch its head, neck, and throat."
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  • Little Blue Heron at Bird City in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

    Little Blue Heron at Bird City in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

  • Little Blue Heron in Jungle Gardens.

    Little Blue Heron in Jungle Gardens.

  • Adult Little Blue Herons in breeding season have blue grey plumage except for their heads and necks, which are purplish.  Their species is unusual in that juvenile Little Blue Herons are all white, and often prefer to mingle with Snowy Egrets, which are more tolerant of them than others of their own species are.

    Adult Little Blue Herons in breeding season have blue grey plumage except for their heads and necks, which are purplish. Their species is unusual in that juvenile Little Blue Herons are all white, and often prefer to mingle with Snowy Egrets, which are more tolerant of them than others of their own species are.

  • Nothing like a nice juicy bug!

    Nothing like a nice juicy bug!

  • Immature Little Blue Heron "flipping" that juicy bug.

    Immature Little Blue Heron "flipping" that juicy bug.

  • Little Blue Heorn flying over Bird City.

    Little Blue Heorn flying over Bird City.

    Little Blue Heron Flying over Avery Island's Bird City.

  • Tricolored Heron flying over Avery Island's Bird City.

    Tricolored Heron flying over Avery Island's Bird City.

  • Little Blue Heron Flying over Avery Island's Bird City.

    Little Blue Heron Flying over Avery Island's Bird City.

  • Little Blue Heron flying over Bird City in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

    Little Blue Heron flying over Bird City in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

  • The Audubon Society says Little Blue Herons are probably closely related to the Snowy Egret, despite their differences in color.  The chicks of the two species look almost alike, as LBH's are born white.  They often mingle with juvenile Snowy Egrets, who stir up more prey than the LBH's could on their own.  The white color also protects the young LBH's from mature Snowy Egrets, who don't like mature LBH's at all.  Unlike Snowy Egrets, mature LBH's were not a target of the plume hunters back in the late 1800's because their feathers were short and dark--not ideal for women's hats.

    The Audubon Society says Little Blue Herons are probably closely related to the Snowy Egret, despite their differences in color. The chicks of the two species look almost alike, as LBH's are born white. They often mingle with juvenile Snowy Egrets, who stir up more prey than the LBH's could on their own. The white color also protects the young LBH's from mature Snowy Egrets, who don't like mature LBH's at all. Unlike Snowy Egrets, mature LBH's were not a target of the plume hunters back in the late 1800's because their feathers were short and dark--not ideal for women's hats.

  • Little Blue Heron on Avery Island.

    Little Blue Heron on Avery Island.

  • Little Blue Heron hopping around its neighborhood in Bird City on Avery Island.

    Little Blue Heron hopping around its neighborhood in Bird City on Avery Island.

  • Little Blue Heron flying over Bird City on Avery Island.

    Little Blue Heron flying over Bird City on Avery Island.

  • Little Blue Heron flying over Bird City on Avery Island.

    Little Blue Heron flying over Bird City on Avery Island.

  • Little Blue Heron on Avery Island.

    Little Blue Heron on Avery Island.

  • Juvenile Little Blue Heron on Avery Island.

    Juvenile Little Blue Heron on Avery Island.

  • A juvenile Little Blue Heron on Avery Island.

    A juvenile Little Blue Heron on Avery Island.

  • Little Blue Heron showing how low the water level in Bayou Petit Anse was after a cold front blew through.  The muddy section it is wasling on is normally under water.

    Little Blue Heron showing how low the water level in Bayou Petit Anse was after a cold front blew through. The muddy section it is wasling on is normally under water.

  • Little Blue Heron stroling through Jungle Gardens on a fall afternoon.

    Little Blue Heron stroling through Jungle Gardens on a fall afternoon.

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