Little Blue Heron

Status Rare visitant. The first report was of an immature white bird "shot at Cole Harbour, lately" (Jones 1885). There were about 15 subsequent records up to 1960, and it has become almost annual since, mostly in southern counties. Of these, 16 were reported first in April, 11 in May, 3 in June, 5 in July, 17 in August, 10 in September, 9 in October and 1 in November. The earliest was on 1 April 1972 and the latest on 17 November 1962. White immature birds and dark adults are reported in similar numbers.

Description Length: 50-74 cm. Adults: Head and neck dull maroon. Rest of plumage dark slaty blue. Bill black at tip, shading to bluish toward its base. Legs and feet blackish. Immatures: Mainly white with more or less slate colour on the tips of the primaries and sometimes traces of this colour elsewhere. Legs and feet greenish yellow.

Range Breeds from Maine and Missouri south through the West Indies and Mexico to South America. Wanders northward irregularly into Canada.

Remarks The white immatures are sometimes mistaken for egrets, but the greenish legs of this bird are unlike those of Snowy and Great Egrets, which have black legs. Furthermore, the dark bill of the Little Blue Heron contrasts with the yellowish bills of Great and Cattle Egrets. It is rather shy and retiring by nature and when feeding seems to favour river margins and shallow ponds inland from the coast. It is a day feeder, retiring at nightfall to its well-established rookeries.