Head to head
Little Blue Heron vs Snowy Egret
Juvenile little blue herons and snowy egrets look so alike that telling them apart is one of the trickier identification challenges facing American birdwatchers.
| Little Blue Heron | Snowy Egret | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Egretta caerulea | Egretta thula |
| Adult plumage | Slate-blue with maroon head/neck | Entirely white |
| Juvenile plumage | Entirely white | Entirely white |
| Bill colour | Pale with a dark tip | Black |
| Feet colour | Greenish-yellow | Bright yellow ("golden slippers") |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Stable |
| Habitat | Wetlands, coastal | Wetlands, coastal |
Little Blue Heron vs Snowy Egret: common questions
Why are juvenile little blue herons mistaken for snowy egrets?
Juvenile little blue herons hatch entirely white, closely resembling the permanently white snowy egret, and telling the two apart reliably requires a close look at bill and leg colour rather than relying on overall plumage alone.
Does the little blue heron stay white like the snowy egret?
No, this species only stays white as a juvenile, gradually turning slate-blue over its first year through an unusual patchy transitional phase, unlike the snowy egret, which remains white throughout its entire life.
How can you tell an adult little blue heron from a snowy egret?
Adults are easy to separate, since the little blue heron has slate-blue plumage with a maroon head and neck, while the snowy egret remains entirely white with a black bill and bright yellow feet.