Quick Answers
Little Blue Herons and egrets can look very similar at first glance. Here are some quick tips for telling them apart:
- Size – Little Blue Herons are smaller than egrets. They reach about 22 inches in height, while egrets can grow to over 3 feet.
- Colors – Adult Little Blue Herons are slate-blue all over. Egrets have contrasting dark and white plumage.
- Bill – Little Blue Herons have a two-toned bill that is dark on top and light underneath. Egrets have an all-dark bill.
- Legs – Little Blue Herons have greenish legs. Egrets have black legs.
- Habitat – Little Blue Herons live around freshwater. Egrets live near saltwater and freshwater.
If you see a small, all blue heron with a two-toned bill in freshwater, it’s likely a Little Blue Heron. Larger tricolored herons around saltwater are usually egrets. Keep reading for more details on identification and behavior.
Detailed Identification
Egrets and Little Blue Herons belong to the Ardeidae family of wading birds. Several egret species occur in North America, while the Little Blue Heron is the only blue heron of its kind. Here is more on how to identify them:
Size
The Little Blue Heron is one of the smallest herons in North America, measuring just 22 inches tall with a wingspan of 35 inches. Their petite size helps distinguish them from the much larger egrets.
Great Egrets are the largest egret species in North America, standing over 3 feet tall with a 4.5 foot wingspan. Intermediate Egrets measure 2.5 feet tall with a 3 foot wingspan. Snowy Egrets are even smaller at 2 feet tall with a 3 foot wingspan – but still larger than the Little Blue.
Colors
Adult Little Blue Herons acquire their distinctive slate-blue coloring starting at one year old. Their feathers reflect a rich, deep blue hue in sunlight. The coloration extends over their entire body.
Egrets have more contrast in their plumage. Great Egrets are bright white with a yellow-orange bill and black legs. Snowy Egrets are also white overall, but have a black bill and yellow feet. Intermediate Egrets have a yellow-orange bill like the Great, but gray-black legs and duller plumage.
During the first year when Little Blue Herons lack their full blue color, they appear patchy and two-toned. But their small size and greenish legs still distinguish them from young egrets.
Bill Shape
The bill shape is a key difference between Little Blue Herons and egrets. Little Blue Herons have a slender, spike-like bill that is two-toned: dark gray on top, and light underneath matching their pale chin.
Egrets all have long bills as well, but theirs are straight and uniformly yellow or black in color. The two-tone bill is unique to the Little Blue Heron.
Legs and Feet
Leg and foot coloration provides another useful ID clue. Little Blue Herons have olive green legs with yellowish feet.
Egrets, on the other hand, have black or yellow legs. Great Egrets have black legs, while Snowy Egrets have black legs with bright yellow feet. Intermediate Egrets have legs that appear gray-black.
Habitat
Little Blue Herons live around freshwater including ponds, marshes, swamps, and flooded fields. They avoid deeper water, preferring shallows where they can wade and stalk prey.
While egrets also frequent freshwater, they are equally at home in estuaries, marshes, mangroves, and shorelines. Pay attention to habitat when trying to distinguish between the two.
Behavioral Differences
In addition to physical characteristics, Little Blue Herons and egrets have some key behavioral differences:
Foraging
Little Blue Herons often forage alone, slowly stalking through shallow water to hunt for fish, frogs, and other prey. They typically stand motionless waiting to ambush prey.
Egrets are more active foragers, moving about somewhat erratically in search of food. They use their long bills to stir up activity, often foraging side-by-side in groups.
Nesting
Little Blue Herons nest in colonies with other wading birds, building stick nests in trees or shrubs. Males collect most of the nesting material.
Egrets nest alone or in single-species colonies. Great Egrets build platform nests up to 2 feet wide, while other egrets construct smaller nests in bushes or mangroves.
Flight Profile
In flight, Little Blue Herons tuck their neck in an “S” shape versus egrets that fly with their neck outstretched. Little Blues also flap their wings rapidly creating quick, choppy wingbeats.
Egrets are larger birds with broad wings allowing for smooth, graceful flight. They soar slowly with steady wing flaps.
Geographic Range
The ranges of Little Blue Herons and egrets provide more clues to their identification:
Little Blue Heron Range
Little Blue Herons breed along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts from New England to Mexico, and throughout Florida. They are year-round residents in the Deep South and points south.
In summer, their range expands north into the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and up the Mississippi River. They winter from the Carolinas south through the Caribbean.
Egret Range
Of the three common North American egrets, Snowy and Great Egrets have the widest ranges:
- Snowy Egrets breed across North America from California to Massachusetts.
- Great Egrets breed coast to coast from Canada to Ecuador.
- Intermediate Egrets are concentrated along the Gulf Coast.
All three egret species winter primarily along the southern U.S. coast and south through Central America.
So while egrets fan out widely in summer, Little Blue Herons are concentrated east of the Mississippi. Seeing a small blue heron west of Texas is very unlikely.
Spotting Tips
Here are some handy tips for spotting and identifying Little Blue Herons versus egrets:
- Check small herons for a two-toned bill – this indicates Little Blue Heron.
- Note leg and foot color – greenish legs signal a Little Blue.
- Assess size – a petite heron under 2 feet tall is almost certainly a Little Blue.
- Consider habitat – freshwater marshes suit the Little Blue best.
- Observe behavior like stalking prey versus active foraging in groups.
- Note location – Little Blue Herons rarely occur far inland or west of the Rockies.
With close observation and attention to detail, anyone can master distinguishing between Little Blue Herons and egrets. Consult a field guide and learn their respective plumages across seasons, ages, and subspecies for best results.
Conclusion
While the Little Blue Heron and North American egrets occupy similar wetland habitats and appear superficially similar, they can be reliably identified by their differences in size, plumage, bill shape, leg color, range, foraging behaviors, and preferred habitat. By understanding these distinctions, birdwatchers can confidently tell Little Blue Herons apart from egrets in the field. With practice, identification becomes quick and intuitive based on recognizing their unique features.
Key Identification Points
Little Blue Heron
- Size: 22 inches tall
- Plumage: Slate-blue body and head
- Bill: Two-toned, dark upper mandible with pale lower
- Legs: Greenish
- Range: Along Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, rare inland or west of Rockies
- Habitat: Freshwater wetlands
- Behavior: Slow, stalking hunter; solitary nester
Egrets
- Size: Over 2 feet tall
- Plumage: White bodies, some with colored bills
- Bill: Uniformly yellow or black
- Legs: Black or yellow
- Range: Throughout North America
- Habitat: Saltwater and freshwater wetlands
- Behavior: Active foraging in groups; solitary nesters
Understanding these core differences allows birders to distinguish between the two groups readily. With practice, identification can be made at a glance based on recognizing size, colors, bill shape, and behavioral cues.
Comparison Chart
Little Blue Heron | Egrets | |
---|---|---|
Size | 22 inches tall | Over 2 feet tall |
Plumage | Solid blue | White with some colored bills |
Bill Color | Two-toned | Solid yellow or black |
Legs | Greenish | Black or yellow |
Range | Atlantic and Gulf Coasts | Throughout North America |
Habitat | Freshwater wetlands | Saltwater and freshwater wetlands |
Behavior | Solitary, stalking hunter | Group foraging |
This table summarizes the key differences in size, appearance, preferred habitat, range, and behaviors between Little Blue Herons and North American egrets. Having these distinctions handy helps birders correctly identify which species they are observing in the field.
Plumage Variations
Both Little Blue Herons and egrets undergo changes in plumage throughout the year and as they mature:
Little Blue Heron Plumage
- Juveniles are white and look similar to egrets, but smaller in size.
- At one year old, slate-blue feathers start to appear on wings, head, back and belly.
- By age two, adult plumage is complete: all slate-blue.
- Breeding adults have handsome maroon-chestnut shoulders, plumes, and mane.
- Non-breeding adults lack breeding plumage and appear plain slate-blue.
Egret Plumage
- Great Egret juveniles have gray-black legs and duller plumage than adults.
- Intermediate Egrets look similar year-round.
- Snowy Egret non-breeding plumage is dingier than crisp white breeding plumage.
- Long breeding plumes grow from rumps of all three egret species.
- Breeding Snowy Egrets develop yellow facial skin and bills.
These variations in appearance throughout the year and across ages can make identification tricky. Studying images of their different plumages is helpful for distinguishing them correctly in all seasons and life stages.
Regional Field Marks
Subtle plumage differences help differentiate regional subspecies:
Little Blue Herons
- Florida birds are darker slate-blue overall.
- Gulf Coast birds have more purple-blue hues.
- Northeast birds are pale blue-gray.
Egrets
- Great Egrets in the west are larger with longer bills.
- Snowy Egrets increase in size farther south.
- Intermediate Egrets grow larger along the Texas coast.
Being familiar with regional forms can aid identification, especially among females, juveniles, and non-breeding adults that lack bright definitive plumage.
Conclusion
In summary, Little Blue Herons and North American egrets share wetland habitats across the southern and coastal U.S., but are readily distinguished by differences in:
- Size and proportions
- Bill shape and color
- Plumage colors and patterns
- Leg and foot color
- Geographic range
- Preferred habitat
- Hunting and nesting behaviors
Equipped with the knowledge of these identifying traits, birders can confidently differentiate Little Blue Herons from egrets of multiple species in all seasons, life stages, and habitats. Taking note of size, bill shape, leg color, plumage details, geographic location, habitat, and behaviors allows for certain identification in the field. With practice, the distinctions become second nature.
By understanding the unique characteristics of these remarkably similar birds, anyone can master identifying Little Blue Herons and egrets accurately every time. This guide covers all the key points for telling them apart. The next step is getting out among herons and egrets and applying these ID tips in real birding situations. Grab your binoculars and field guide to test your skills!