Little Blue Heron look-alikes

Key differences

Juvenile Little Blue Herons are all white and can be confused with Snowy Egrets. However, Snowy Egrets have black legs with bright yellow feet ('golden slippers') and an entirely black bill, whereas juvenile Little Blue Herons have dull greenish-yellow legs and a duller, often dark-tipped bill. Adult Snowy Egrets are entirely white.

Key differences

Juvenile Little Blue Herons can also be confused with immature Cattle Egrets. Cattle Egrets are stockier, have a shorter, thicker yellow bill, and duller greenish-yellow legs. They are often found in drier habitats associated with livestock, unlike the wetland-dependent Little Blue Heron.

Key differences

Adult Little Blue Herons are uniformly dark blue-gray. Tricolored Herons have a white belly and a white stripe down the front of the neck, contrasting sharply with their blue-gray back and wings. Their bill is also typically longer and more slender.