Notes on the plumages and generic status of the Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron juveniles

Little Blue Heron juveniles

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) Science Article 3

abstract

The juvenal plumage of the Little Blue Heron (Florida caerulea) has always been described as white with dull brownish gray tips to the primaries (Palmer, 1962: 428, and earlier authors). In September 1962, when Dickermanw as collectingb lood specimensfr om nestling h rons in a large mixed colony at San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico, an assistant brought to theboat for bleeding a large ambulatory nestling, 20-25 days of age, which because of the chestnut suffusion on the crown and back was considered at the time a hybrid between the Little Blue Heron and Louisiana Heron (Hydranassa tricolor).

ROBERT W. DICKERMAN AND KENNETH C. PARKES, The Auk, 85: 437-440

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