From Heron, we Egret...

[CaraRose]

With all the great Heron and Egret photos on this forum, I was thinking they should have their own thread

Here's a few of mine from the keys a few years back.

[paulnj]

You do know the first 2 and last are white morph great blue heron (great white heron) right?

[CaraRose]

Nope. I knew they were either herons or egrets, but other than #3 (which I believe is a Snowy Egret?) I never had an ID on them. Thanks!

[AgingEyes]

White morph? Never seen them before. Thanks for sharing !

[paulnj]

The white morph only lives in Florida and is rare there too.

[CaraRose]

The white morph only lives in Florida and is rare there too.

I had no idea.

These were taken in Key Largo at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. The First two were taken in '06 (pretty sure it's the same bird in both shots). The last one was from '07.

Wonderful place, does a lot of good helping injured wild birds return to the wild. The rehabilitation cages go along a board walk in a marshy area, and there are always wild birds all over, in the shrubs and trees, on the railings, on top of the different enclosures. Pelicans, Ibis, lots and lots of Egrets (and apparently Herons).

Here's some more shots from the Center. I don't know if these are egrets or herons either...

[paulnj]

first 3 are great egrets and the last 2 look to be great white herons. I am starting to doubt my ID , but am 98% sure of them. The best way to ID them for sure is leg color .

[Canon_Bob]

I agree with Paul. Great White Heron. The plumes give it away as well. The real telltale though is the blue eyeshadow. Great Egrets have neon green eyeshadow in breeding plumage. These are White Morph Great Blue Herons. Congrats!

[paulnj]

Thanks for the confirmation Bob!

[AgingEyes]

I agree with Paul. Great White Heron. The plumes give it away as well. The real telltale though is the blue eyeshadow. Great Egrets have neon green eyeshadow in breeding plumage. These are White Morph Great Blue Herons. Congrats!

I was wondering it they're still called Great Blue Herons. Thanks Bob for the info !