Project Description
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
Range/Geographical Distribution: Eastern United States and Central America south to Brazil. Winters south of North Carolina.
Habitat: Marshes, swamps, streams, and shores.
Similar Species: Great blue heron, and little blue heron.
Description: A medium-sized wading bird with a white belly and white neck stripe. The neck is blue-brown, the legs are yellow, and the back is blue.
Size: Length: 23-28” Wingspan: 37” Weight: 415g
Food: Hunts small fish and invertebrates in shallow waters.
Breeding: Nests in trees in colonies among coastal wetlands and freshwater marshes. Lays three or four blue/green eggs in a twig and grass nest.
Predators: Eggs fall prey to raccoons, crows, and vultures.
Conservation Status: The tricolored heron is listed as least concern by IUCN.
Interesting Facts: Tricolored herons are monogamous and males gather the twigs that the female use to build a nest.
On the Coast: Tricolored herons are often seen wading near Georgia beaches, saltmarshes, estuaries, and swamps in search of prey.