The tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor), formerly
known in North America as the Louisiana heron, is a small heron.
It is a resident breeder from the Gulf states
of the United States and northern Mexico south through Central America and the Caribbean to
central Brazil and Peru. There is some post-breeding dispersal to well north of
the nesting range.
Tricolored
heron's breeding habitat is sub-tropical swamps.
It nests in colonies, often with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks
in trees or shrubs. In each clutch, 3–7 eggs are
typically laid.
This
species measures from 56 to 76 cm (22 to 30 in) long and has a
wingspan of 96 cm (38 in). The
slightly larger male heron weighs 415 g (14.6 oz) on average, while
the female averages 334 g (11.8 oz). It is a
medium-large, long-legged, long-necked heron with a long pointed yellowish or
greyish bill with a black tip. The legs and feet are dark.
Adults
have a blue-grey head, neck, back and upperwings, with a white line along the
neck. The belly is white. In breeding plumage, they have long blue filamentous
plumes on the head and neck, and buff ones on the back.
The
tricolored heron stalks its prey in shallow or deeper water, often running as
it does so. It eats fish, crustaceans, reptiles, and insects.
No comments:
Post a Comment