Head to head
Reddish Egret vs Tricolored Heron
The reddish egret and tricolored heron are both known for unusually active hunting styles that set them apart from the patient, motionless stereotype of most herons.
| Reddish Egret | Tricolored Heron | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Egretta rufescens | Egretta tricolor |
| Hunting style | Erratic staggering and spinning | Active dashing pursuit |
| Notable technique | Wing-raised shade canopy | None comparable |
| Colour forms | Two (reddish-brown and white) | One |
| Native range | Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean | The Americas |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Coastal | Wetlands, coastal |
Reddish Egret vs Tricolored Heron: common questions
Which is more erratic, the reddish egret or the tricolored heron?
The reddish egret is the more erratic of the two, staggering and spinning across shallow water and sometimes raising its wings into a shade canopy, while the tricolored heron's active dashing pursuit is comparatively more direct.
Why is the reddish egret more threatened than the tricolored heron?
The reddish egret was historically reduced to very low numbers by plume hunting and remains classified as Near Threatened, while the tricolored heron did not suffer the same historical decline and remains Least Concern today.
Does the reddish egret always look reddish-brown, unlike the tricolored heron?
Not always, since the reddish egret occurs in two distinct colour forms, a dark reddish-brown form and a less common all-white form, while the tricolored heron shows a single consistent dark blue-grey and white pattern.