The tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor), formerly known as the Louisiana heron,[3] is a small species of heron native to coastal parts of the Americas. The species is more solitary than other species of heron in the Americas and eats a diet consisting mostly of small fish.
Tricolored herons breed in swamps and other coastal habitats and nests in colonies, often with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. In each clutch, three to seven eggs are typically laid. The tricolored heron is the second most coastal heron in the United States.[3]
The species' range follows the northeastern United States, south along the coast, through the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, to northern South America as far south as Brazil. In the Pacific region, it ranges from Peru to California, but it is only a nonbreeding visitor to the far north.
It was likely the most numerous heron in North America until the cattle egret arrived to the continent in the 1950s.[3] While the species' population appears to be on the decline,[3] it remains quite common.[4] The bird is listed as "Threatened" by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.[5]
Descriptionedit
This species measures from 56 to 76 cm (22 to 30 in) long and has a typical wingspan of 96 cm (38 in).[6] The slightly larger male heron weighs 415 g (14.6 oz) on average, while the female averages 334 g (11.8 oz).[7] It is a medium-large, long-legged, long-necked heron with a long, pointed, yellowish or greyish bill with a black tip. Its legs and feet are dark. The plumage of the triclolored heron changes dramatically from its juvenile form to its adult form.[5]
Adults have a blue-grey head, neck, back, and upper wings, with a white line along the neck. The belly is white. In breeding plumage, they have long, blue, filamentous plumes on their heads and necks, and buff ones on their backs.[4]
Behavior and dietedit
The tricolored heron is more solitary when foraging than other North American herons. When it forages for its prey, it is typically belly-deep in water, alone or at the edge of a mixed flock.[3][4] Kent (1986) found that the diets of tricolored herons in Florida consisted of 99.7% fish and prawns.[8] While other members of Egretta may also eat crabs and opportunistically forage for terrestrial arthropods, the tricolored heron has been consistently observed to be almost exclusively piscivorous, primarily feeding on members of Poeciliidae.[9]
^BirdLife International (2016). "Egretta tricolor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22696931A93594077. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22696931A93594077.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^ abcdeFrederick, Peter C. (2020). Poole, A.F. (ed.). "Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor), version 1.0". Birds of the World. Ithaca, New York: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.triher.01.
^"Biological and Ecotoxicological Characteristics of Terrestrial Vertebrate Species Residing in Estuaries: Tricolored Heron". USGS.
^Kent, Donald M. (1986). "Behavior, Habitat Use, and Food of Three Egrets in a Marine Habitat". Colonial Waterbirds. 9 (1): 25–30.
^Miranda, Leopoldo; Collazo, Jaime A (1997). "Food Habits of 4 Species of Wading Birds (Ardeidae) in a Tropical Mangrove Swamp". Colonial Waterbirds. 20 (3): 413–418.
Further readingedit
Hilty, Steven L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Princeton University Press. ISBN0-7136-6418-5.
Field Guide to the Birds of North America. National Geographic. 1987. ISBN0-7922-6877-6.
Stiles, F. Gary; Skutch, Alexander F. (1989). A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Comstock Publishing Associates. ISBN0-8014-9600-4.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Egretta tricolor.
Wikispecies has information related to Egretta tricolor.
Tricolored heron photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
Tricolored Heron species account at Neotropical Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) (subscription required)
January 01, 1970
tricolored, heron, tricolored, heron, egretta, tricolor, formerly, known, louisiana, heron, small, species, heron, native, coastal, parts, americas, species, more, solitary, than, other, species, heron, americas, eats, diet, consisting, mostly, small, fish, eg. The tricolored heron Egretta tricolor formerly known as the Louisiana heron 3 is a small species of heron native to coastal parts of the Americas The species is more solitary than other species of heron in the Americas and eats a diet consisting mostly of small fish Tricolored heron Egretta tricolor in Quintana Texas Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Pelecaniformes Family Ardeidae Genus Egretta Species E tricolor Binomial name Egretta tricolor Muller 1776 Range of E tricolor Breeding range Year round range Wintering range Synonyms 2 Ardea tricolor Muller 1776 Hydranassa tricolor Muller 1776 Hydranassa tricolor subsp tricolor Stotz et al 1996 Contents 1 Habitat breeding and distribution 2 Description 3 Behavior and diet 4 Gallery 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksHabitat breeding and distribution editTricolored herons breed in swamps and other coastal habitats and nests in colonies often with other herons usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs In each clutch three to seven eggs are typically laid The tricolored heron is the second most coastal heron in the United States 3 The species range follows the northeastern United States south along the coast through the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean to northern South America as far south as Brazil In the Pacific region it ranges from Peru to California but it is only a nonbreeding visitor to the far north It was likely the most numerous heron in North America until the cattle egret arrived to the continent in the 1950s 3 While the species population appears to be on the decline 3 it remains quite common 4 The bird is listed as Threatened by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 5 Description editThis species measures from 56 to 76 cm 22 to 30 in long and has a typical wingspan of 96 cm 38 in 6 The slightly larger male heron weighs 415 g 14 6 oz on average while the female averages 334 g 11 8 oz 7 It is a medium large long legged long necked heron with a long pointed yellowish or greyish bill with a black tip Its legs and feet are dark The plumage of the triclolored heron changes dramatically from its juvenile form to its adult form 5 Adults have a blue grey head neck back and upper wings with a white line along the neck The belly is white In breeding plumage they have long blue filamentous plumes on their heads and necks and buff ones on their backs 4 Behavior and diet editThe tricolored heron is more solitary when foraging than other North American herons When it forages for its prey it is typically belly deep in water alone or at the edge of a mixed flock 3 4 Kent 1986 found that the diets of tricolored herons in Florida consisted of 99 7 fish and prawns 8 While other members of Egretta may also eat crabs and opportunistically forage for terrestrial arthropods the tricolored heron has been consistently observed to be almost exclusively piscivorous primarily feeding on members of Poeciliidae 9 Gallery edit nbsp Feeding nbsp Marco Island Florida nbsp nbsp Flying nbsp Juvenile nbsp nbsp In full breeding colors in central Florida nbsp Between the crocodiles Tortuguero Costa RicaReferences edit BirdLife International 2016 Egretta tricolor IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22696931A93594077 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22696931A93594077 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Egretta tricolor Statius Muller 1776 Global Biodiversity Information Facility Retrieved 25 March 2023 a b c d e Frederick Peter C 2020 Poole A F ed Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor version 1 0 Birds of the World Ithaca New York Cornell Lab of Ornithology doi 10 2173 bow triher 01 a b c Tricolored Heron Audubon 2014 11 13 Retrieved 2022 12 31 a b The Tricolored Heron Has More Than Three Colors Audubon Florida 2019 07 15 Retrieved 2022 12 31 Tricolored Heron All About Birds Cornell Lab of Ornithology Biological and Ecotoxicological Characteristics of Terrestrial Vertebrate Species Residing in Estuaries Tricolored Heron USGS Kent Donald M 1986 Behavior Habitat Use and Food of Three Egrets in a Marine Habitat Colonial Waterbirds 9 1 25 30 Miranda Leopoldo Collazo Jaime A 1997 Food Habits of 4 Species of Wading Birds Ardeidae in a Tropical Mangrove Swamp Colonial Waterbirds 20 3 413 418 Further reading editHilty Steven L 2003 Birds of Venezuela Princeton University Press ISBN 0 7136 6418 5 Field Guide to the Birds of North America National Geographic 1987 ISBN 0 7922 6877 6 Stiles F Gary Skutch Alexander F 1989 A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica Comstock Publishing Associates ISBN 0 8014 9600 4 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Egretta tricolor nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Egretta tricolor Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter Tricolored heron photos at Field Guide Birds of the World on Flickr Tricolored heron Bird Sound at Florida Museum of Natural History Tricolored heron media Internet Bird Collection Tricolored heron photo gallery at VIREO Drexel University Tricolored Heron species account at Neotropical Birds Cornell Lab of Ornithology subscription required Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tricolored heron amp oldid 1221937604, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
