A Feather in His Cap ~ the Tricolored Heron!
I don’t see all that many Tricolored Herons, so when I do I get excited. They say their numbers are stable, around 200,000 of them in the United States, mostly in the southeastern states. Tricolored Herons are also known as “Louisiana Herons”. Around here, Mt. Pleasant, SC, I see many more Great Blue Herons, but I understand that the further south one goes the more common Tricolors are. They have several different looks, depending on how old they are and whether or not it is breeding season. This might help you identify one if you see one!
When they are young, or juveniles, they have a rufous (reddish) neck and mottled gray feathers, with a white belly. They are the only dark heron with a white belly. The first Tricolored Heron I ever saw was a juvenile and I was surprised when it landed on a piling nearby.
It was skinny and awkward. Junior was full of himself and proceeded to do all kinds of funny poses, while I took pictures of him with my modest and now demoted old zoom lens. He went through his routine, pulling a Heisman Trophy pose (one of my favorites), then The Stretch, and one of the more common poses among herons The Itch! :)
I was new to birding and I figured it was some type of heron, but I couldn’t wait to get home and Google it. Rufous was a new word for me, but it sure describes the juvenile Tricolored Heron well.
Then a few years later, when birding in Florida I saw an adult Tricolor and was amazed at how blue its feathers were. It looked like a totally different bird. Its color really is close to a slate gray but when the sun hits it the blue really stands out. Tri’s also have some purple color at the base of their necks. It was so different from the juvenile Tri that I had photographed I looked it up and discovered that it was an adult Tricolored Heron, also described as a Louisiana Heron, especially in the far south.
Yesterday, I spotted an adult Tricolor in breeding plumage and I was struck again by the color changes. The lore and lower beak is usually yellow in color, but in breeding season it turns a vibrant cerulean blue color. This bird was so handsome it was hard to stop photographing him, knowing it was time to head home.
His belly was a warm, white color which stood out against the slate gray feathers. When on alert or trying to attract attention his feathers would fan out and pouf up, as is common with all herons. Noticeable on the back of his head was a tuft of white feathers sticking out like a feather in a cap! What a handsome bird!!! I think they know when they are looking their best for they tend to look proud and command respect. :)
I was busy photographing egrets nesting when this particular Tricolor appeared. There were many egrets in the rookery, but only this one heron. The strong afternoon sun lit up its colors, especially his blue beak. I loved the color. I just might have to paint him one day!
There are Green Herons, Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Herons, White Herons, and yes, Tricolored Herons. I would say that the Tricolored Heron and the Little Blue Heron have the most dramatic morphs to their feather colors as they age and breed.
I hope you enjoyed this quick summary of the Tricolored Herons various looks.
Thank you for reading my journal and for your interest in my art and photography! My bird paintings are available on my website here and my canvas bird reproduction prints are available here and my photographs are now available at fineartamerica.com.
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion….”
What’s next?
Drawing by William R. Beebe