The Tricolored Heron is a coastal resident and every once in awhile an individual is found inland. Today a visitor reported a Tricolored Heron at Cheyenne Bottoms amongst the usual assortment of herons, egrets, and gulls scavenging on fish.
This afternoon, the heron was still present in the corner of Pool 1C, by the outhouse. While the lighting was less than ideal, I captured a photo that provides a good visual comparison. On the far right, the Tricolored Heron is roughly the same size as the nearby Snowy Egret, and in the foreground is a much larger Great Blue Heron. The Little Blue Heron is another small and dark-colored heron you might encounter; however, the white belly of the Tricolored Heron is usually visible, even from a long distance.
Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, and Tricolored Heron
