Herons and Bitterns - Ardeidae

Black Crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax: Photographed next to the Etang de la mer rouge in the Brenne, June.





































Purple Heron Ardea purpurea: Photographed in the same place at the same time as the Black Crowned Night Heron above.












Little Egret Egretta garzetta:
In the Vienne River at Chinon. (Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus to the right.)

In the Vienne River at Chinon. (Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus to the right.)


1 comment:

  1. Worth pointing out the Egret "jizz" factors...

    Cattle Egret...
    small, hangs around with cattle...
    in breeding plumage pinky-orange on head, chest and wing ends...
    yellow bill [juvenile has a black bill]...
    v.pale legs...
    tidy tail

    Little Egret...
    Black legs, yellow feet [sudden difference... as if it stood in paint]...
    black [or mainly black bill]...
    plumes from back of head...
    rough looking tail...
    gentle s-bend in neck...

    Great Egret...
    As tall as a white heron...
    long dark legs...
    neck has a pronounced s-bend [looks almost "broken"]...
    Bright yellow bill in winter [or a non-breeding individual]... goes blackish to very black in breeding condition...
    wonderful long tail plumes in breeding/summer...
    non-breeders are very tidy at rear.

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