Heron (Tri-Colour)

The Tri-coloured Heron is a medium-size named for its three main colors: bluish-gray, purple and white. Its head, back and wings are a dark bluish-gray. The back of the neck is purple. The belly is white. The Tri-color also has a narrow white streak with delicate rust-coloured markings down the front of its neck. The eyes are bright red. The legs are pale green or yellow. The bill is usually yellow at the base and has a dark tip.

During breeding season the Tri-color gets a white pony tail plume on the back of its head and its legs turn bright red.

The Tri-coloured walks through shallow water in a jerky fashion, crouching and darting as it moves along. Sometimes it raises its wings to cast a shadow on the water so it can spot its prey.

The Tri-color is very vocal if disturbed while fishing. It flies away abruptly and gives out a loud call that falls somewhere between a squawk and a bark.

Photographed in the wild, Naples FL