Tricolored Heron in breeding plumage with prey

Tricolored Heron in breeding plumage with prey – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/750, ISO 250, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 300mm, natural light, not baited

Just a simple image of a Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) in breeding plumage with a small fish in its bill. The heron provided its own bait naturally by capturing it in the Gulf of Mexico.

While in breeding plumage Tricolored Herons have redder legs, darker red eyes, blue lores and blue on the bill plus a longer, white occipital plume than they do during the nonbreeding season. I’ve added no saturation to this image, these are the natural colors.

Image taken in 2009 at Fort De Soto’s north beach.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Tricolored Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.

By Mia McPherson|November 10th, 2012|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Tricolored Herons|Tags: adult, baitfish, breeding plumage, coastal, coastal island, coastal key, Egretta tricolor, fish, Gulf of Mexico, heron, herons, prey, Tricolored Heron, wading birds, water, waves|19 Comments

19 Comments

Sherry in MT November 26, 2012 at 9:07 am

Found your site via Bob Bushnell’s blog and am glad I did. I love herons (we have great blue herons here) and photographing them so I really enjoy seeing so many other varieties of them. This is great!
Rohrerbot November 13, 2012 at 9:33 pm

Incredible!!!
- Mia McPherson November 15, 2012 at 5:22 am
  
  Thank you Chris!
Tami November 11, 2012 at 1:58 pm

“Simple” image – it’s beautiful! I had no idea they developed those blues. And the wispy “grandfather” curls on the back of its head – so cool.
- Mia McPherson November 13, 2012 at 1:24 pm
  
  Thanks Tami, they are beautiful herons.
Bryce November 11, 2012 at 1:12 pm

I love this photo. Ardeidae is my favorite family. I’ve never seen a Tricolored Heron. Your photo is making me think I need to make it a priority.
- Mia McPherson November 13, 2012 at 1:23 pm
  
  Bryce, I hope you get to see Tricolored Heron soon, they are not only gorgeous but very fascinating subjects. A few years ago one showed up in Idaho, of all places!
M. Firpi November 10, 2012 at 8:08 pm

I was close to Fort De Soto but at that time I still didn’t have a blog yet. It seems to be a true birder’s paradise You nailed it so well again!
- Mia McPherson November 13, 2012 at 1:22 pm
  
  Thanks Maria, Fort De Soto is a paradise.
Julie G. November 10, 2012 at 3:16 pm

Lovely capture of a most beautiful bird!
- Mia McPherson November 13, 2012 at 1:21 pm
  
  Thanks Julie!
Merrill Ann Gonzales November 10, 2012 at 1:46 pm

I never realized how bright that blue was on their face. Many thanks for this shot. 🙂
- Mia McPherson November 13, 2012 at 1:21 pm
  
  Thank you Merrill, they really do get blue when they are in breeding plumage, it is strikingly different than in nonbreeding plumage.
Tammy Karr November 10, 2012 at 7:55 am

Beautiful capture! I love the colors of a Tricolored Heron in breeding plumage.
- Mia McPherson November 13, 2012 at 1:16 pm
  
  Thank you Tammy.
Bob Bushell November 10, 2012 at 7:43 am

Nice one Mia.
- Mia McPherson November 13, 2012 at 1:16 pm
  
  Thanks Bob!
Susan November 10, 2012 at 5:39 am

Quite simply gorgeous!
- Mia McPherson November 13, 2012 at 1:15 pm
  
  Thank you Susan, I think Tricolored Herons are gorgeous!

Comments are closed.

Tricolored Heron in breeding plumage with prey

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