Tricolored Heron
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Subclass
Infraclass
Superorder
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Egretta tricolor
Life Span
17 years
Weight
334-415
11.8-14.6
goz
g oz 
Length
56-76
22-29.9
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
96
38
cminch
cm inch 

The tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor ), formerly known as the Louisiana heron, is a small species of heron native to coastal parts of the Americas; in the Atlantic region, it ranges from the northeastern United States, south along the coast, through the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, to northern South America as far south as Brazil. In the Pacific region, it ranges from Peru to California, but it is only a nonbreeding visitor to the far north.

Di

Diurnal

Ca

Carnivore

Pi

Piscivores

Te

Terrestrial

Wa

Wading birds

Pr

Precocial

Pr

Predator

Te

Territorial

Co

Congregatory

Mo

Monogamy

Ge

Generally solitary

Co

Colonial

Mi

Migrating

T

starts with

Appearance

Aptly named, this beautiful water bird that lives in the Americas (originally called the Louisiana heron in North America) has slate-gray upperparts and bright white underparts, with reddish stripes on its neck. The Tricolored heron becomes even more colorful during the breeding season, when its bill turns bright blue and has a black tip, its neck feathers become bluish-purple, its legs deep pink, a crest of white develops on its head, and its neck and shoulder plumage turns violet. Very slender, with a long bill and neck and long legs, this heron often wades belly-deep within coastal lagoons.

Distribution

Geography

This species lives in southern and eastern North America (along the coast of Maine, in Texas, and along the coasts of Mexico), in the coastal areas of Central America, in the West Indies, and along the South American coasts to Brazil at the mouth of the Amazon River and across to the Pacific Coast off northern Peru. It inhabits shores and shallow marshes, mudflats, mangroves, bays, and swamps that have woodland cover because often it perches in trees.

Tricolored Heron habitat map

Climate zones

Tricolored Heron habitat map
Tricolored Heron
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Habits and Lifestyle

Tricolored herons are a migratory species. They are diurnal, usually solitary, and defend their hunting area strongly, charging at other invaders of the same species, as well as other wading species. They generally stand in shallow water to seek their prey, usually walking quickly, but, depending on the habitat, they may run rapidly through the shallow water with their wings partly raised, sometimes with one foot far forward, vibrating their foot rapidly on the bottom to flush out prey. They will change their foraging strategy to be able to continue to catch their preferred prey. Tricolored herons are usually silent when not in the breeding colonies, but when flushed they produce a harsh, nasal croak. Their common call sounds like a loud sharp “kyowk”.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Tricolored herons are carnivores (piscivores) and 90% of their diet is fish, but they also eat amphibians, crustaceans, gastropods, worms, leeches, spiders and insects.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
early to mid-March
INCUBATION PERIOD
21 days
INDEPENDENT AGE
35 days
FEMALE NAME
hen
MALE NAME
cock
BABY NAME
chick
web.animal_clutch_size
3-4 eggs

Tricolored herons are monogamous, with a male mating with only one female, a female mating with only one male. When a pair has bonded, the male chooses a nesting site and they begin to build a nest of sticks. Nesting runs from early to mid-March. Nests are built on a bed of reeds or in a tree. 3 to 4 eggs are laid, blue to blue-green in color. Incubation is for about 21 days. Hatching occurs over several days and the first chick born is more likely to survive than the second, and so on. Once all the chicks have hatched, it takes about 35 days for them to start to fly. Both parents care for the young and gather food for them. Once fledged, the chicks will look after themselves.

Population

Population threats

The Tricolored heron is threatened in some parts of its range due to disturbance, pollution, and habitat loss. While nesting, it is especially vulnerable to human interference, as breeding birds may abandon their nests, leaving their brood defenseless against exposure and predators. Occasionally this bird is hunted for food, including its eggs. Culls are occasionally permitted where there are aquaculture farms in order to limit this species’ predation of farmed crustacean stocks. The heron population in the Florida Everglades has been in decline due to habitat degradation and the associated decrease in food.

Population number

This species has an extremely large range. According to the Heron Conservation resource, the total population size of the Tricolored heron in the U.S. exceeds 200,000 birds. It is common in Suriname, with 10,000 pairs and there are 5,000 in Guyana. The All About Birds resource records that the U.S. breeding population is no more than 194,000 birds. Overall, currently, Tricolored herons are classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and their numbers today remain stable.

Ecological niche

Due to their diet, Tricolored herons may affect fish populations in their range.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • A flock of herons is called, amongst other names, a “rookery”, “scattering”, “hedge”, “battery” or “pose”
  • When it senses danger, a Tricolored heron camouflages itself by standing straight with its bill pointed up to the sky.
  • These herons are the only dark-colored ones with a white belly.
  • Tricolored herons are one of the herons in the Deep South that are the most abundant.
  • When stalking prey, the Tricolored heron will go deeper into the water than any other heron. As the sun sets and the light is disappearing, herons become more frantic in their attempt to catch some prey before nightfall.

References

1. Tricolored Heron Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricolored_heron
2. Tricolored Heron on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22696931/0
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/705371

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