Little Blue Heron

The Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) is a small heron. This species is about 24-inches long with a 40-inch wingspan. This particular adult likely weighs about a pound. Due to the light color of this specimen's feet I suspect he is a non-breeding male.



This bird is quite aggressive and not to be confused with the much larger Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). . .see my comments a couple posts back about the Great Blue.

I heard this guy squawking this afternoon at the lakeshore. He was attacking a feral cat. The cat retreated. The Little Blue went on to feed in the shallow water hunting for fish, frogs crustaceans, small rodents and insects. He moved on when I got about 100' from his location. . . that is how I got these shots.



Of interest: In its first year, the Little Blue Heron is completely white and often travels with flocks of Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula), presumably this is a trait evolved to preserve the species to adulthood.

The Little Blue is much more rare than the Great Blue Heron. . . but I see them daily in the lake behind the house.