Tricolored Heron

Tricolored Heron, adult

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1. Description
2. Similar Species
3. Sound
4. Range
5. Other Names

A medium-sized, slender heron of the southeastern United States, the Tricolored Heron was formerly known as the Louisiana Heron.

Description

• Size: 60-70 cm (24-28 in)
• Wingspan: 95 cm (37 in)
• Weight: 415 g (14.65 ounces)

• Medium-sized heron.
• Long, slender neck and bill.
• Dark back and neck
• White belly.

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Immature

Similar to adult, but more reddish.

Similar Species

• Little Blue Heron is slightly smaller and stockier, and lacks white belly, white line down throat, and white head plumes.
• Great Blue Heron is larger, lacks the white belly, and has a paler neck.

Sound

Soft, nasal moaning.

Range

Range Map

© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

About the map

Summer Range

Breeds along coast from New Jersey southward to Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America.

Winter Range

Winters in most of its breeding range.

Other Names

Aigrette tricolore (French)
Garceta tricolor, Garza pechiblanca (Spanish)
Louisiana Heron (English)

Sources used to construct this page:

Frederick, P. C. 1997. Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor). In The Birds of North America, No. 306 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.