<em>Birds Living II</em> by Richard Stade

Little Blue Heron – About to dive for fish Egretta caerylea March – Texas L=26” ...... WS=36” ....... WT=13 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) Little Blue Herons winter along the U.S. Gulf Coast and in Mexico and breed in the southeast U.S. through Texas. They are often overlooked in wetland environments because of their dark adult plumage and somewhat secretive and solitary feeding habits. It is unque amonsgt herons as its first year plumage is white whereas its mature plumage is slate blue. Immature birds are often mistaken for other white herons. Since Little Blue Herons are dark and do not have aigrette plumes, they largely excaped the plume hunters.