Little Blue

Anyone who has payed much attention to the herons and egrets probably won't be at all surprised to learn that the Great Egret and Great Blue Heron are cousins in the Genus Ardea. Likewise, the Snowy Egret and Little Blue Heron. are cousins in the Genus Egretta. There is an obvious difference in the color of their plumage, but the over all size and body confirmation of the Snowy Egret and Little Blue Heron are similar.

One difference between the two species that may not be as obvious as their color is the way they go about hunting their prey. The Snowy Egret is a very active and aggressive hunter, constantly moving, often with the appearance of being very agitated. The Little Blue, as they are frequently referred to by birders, is much more laid-back, walking slowly and calmly along in shallow water as it hunts.

This set of photos was taken on the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River downstream from the Roosevelt Park trailhead on Friday, September 13, 2013. This Little Blue is walking on the edge of the gravel point bar on the inside of the curve in the river upstream from the pedestrian bridge.