ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron

Photo by Richard Day/Daybreak Imagery

A number of southern wading birds stage late summer "irruptions," where large numbers move north after the breeding season. The little blue heron, which breeds primarily in coastal southern Atlantic and Gulf states, occasionally irrupts north to Ohio in large numbers. More typically, we get a dozen or less reports annually.

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

At-a-Glance

• Incubation: 22-24 days

• Clutch Size: 3-5 eggs

• Young Fledge: 42-49 days after hatching

• Typical Foods: fish, frogs, lizards, snakes, turtles, and crustaceans

Description
First-year birds are white and look very much like snowy egrets, but their legs are entirely greenish and their bills lack any yellow at base. Breeding adults have blue-gray bodies with purplish heads and necks, while their legs and feet are dark blue. Non-breeding adults are dark blue in color with pale legs.

Habitat and Habits
Little blue herons create hoarse, choking squawks similar to great blue herons. Shallow marshes and similar habitats are preferred.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
These herons lay their eggs in April in a nest of sticks in a small tree or bush. Little blue herons nest in colonies, but both parents incubate the eggs and feed the young.