Tricolored Heron at Gatorland

the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe…. (Leviticus 11:19 NKJV)

Here is the next beautifully created bird seen on our trip to Gatorland this week. See the other articles listed below.

Today, I want to share the Tricolored Herons (Egretta tricolor) which were in their breeding plumage busy courting and building nest.

“During breeding season, the Tricolored Heron sports a short white head plume, a buffy throat and fore-neck, a blue face, and a blue bill, tipped with black. The eyes are reddish, and the legs pinkish. Nonbreeding adults have a yellow face, bill, and legs; the throat and fore-neck are white.” (Audubon)

Tricolored Heron at Gatorland

The Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) formerly known in North America as the Louisiana Heron, is a small heron. They are in the Ardeidae- Herons, Bitterns Family. It is a resident breeder from the Gulf states of the USA and northern Mexico south through Central America and the Caribbean to central Brazil and Peru. There is some post-breeding dispersal to well north of the nesting range.

Tricolored Heron’s breeding habitat is sub-tropical swamps. 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.

Tricolored Heron at Gatorland

This species measures from 56 to 76 cm (22 to 30 in) long, and has a wingspan of 96 cm (38 in). The slightly larger male heron weighs 415 g (14.6 oz) on average, while the female averages 334 g (11.8 oz). 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.
Tricolored Heron stalks its prey in shallow or deeper water, often running as it does so. It eats fish, crustaceans, reptiles, and insects. (Wikipedia)

Trying this method of showing the photos. By clicking on a photo, it will bring it up full screen and then you can browse through them. Leave a comment as to which method you prefer.

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Video of Tricoloreds Preening and Building Nest

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• Birds of the Bible – Herons
• Gatorland’s Snowy Egrets
• Gatorland – March 2014 ~ I
• Ardeidae- Herons, Bitterns Family
• Gatorland in Orlando.
• Tricolored Heron – Wikipedia
• Wordless Book

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