Florida Herons and Egrets in Spring
Impressive Stand and Wait Hunters
Driving through Florida is enjoyable because almost every canal, pond, and slough along the roadways is populated by one to several species of heron or egret as well as many shorebirds and anhingas. Although most species display prominently, some must be specifically sought out, and others require careful, systematic search to find them.
Herons and Egrets Found in Florida
Florida's avifauna includes all species of heron and egret found in the United States except the tiger herons that may be infrequently found in the extreme southwest. Most species are permanent residents in Florida although individuals may migrate seasonally to more northern locations.
Habitats for Florida Herons and Egrets
All bodies of water provide excellent viewing opportunities for the great-blue heron (Ardea herodius), great egret (Casmerodius alba), snowy egret (Egretta thula), tricolored (Egretta tricolor), and little blue heron (Egretta caerulea). The diminutive green heron is rather secretive and is usually found only after careful scrutiny along banks. Reddish egrets (Egretta rufescens) frequent salt marshes, estuaries, and the gulf shores. Black- (Nycticorax nycticorax) and yellow-crowned night herons (Nicticorax violacea) still feed only at night at this time of year. They can be found around ponds and lakes and in mangroves toward evening and in the morning, often standing deep in mangroves or on red mangrove prop roots staring into the water, but their heads and necks may also stick out of the mangrove foliage. Cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) frequent roadsides and open fields.
Least bitterns (Ixobrychus exilis) are usually found in cattail marshes along the edges of ponds and lakes. Being the same color as last autumn's cattail leaves, they require careful and methodical scrutiny. Even more difficult to locate is the American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus). With longitudinal stripes they blend perfectly into the background and it is a rare observer who can identify its outline in the canes and grasses along Florida's waterways.
Florida Hot Spots to Find Herons and Egrest
All herons and egrets can be found in Fort Desoto County Park (Pinellas County), along the Sunshine Skyway bridge approaches (Pinellas County to Bradenton), Lovers Key (Bonita Beach), Clam Pass (Naples), Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge (Sanibel Island), Briggs Wildlife Refuge, Marco Island, and Everglades City. Those that frequent freshwater and the bitterns are also found in Lettuce Lake Park (Tampa), Myakka River and Manatee River state parks (east of I-75), and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
Cattle egrets often provide spectacular displays as they fly to their roosts silhouetted against the sunset in lower Hillsborough and Polk counties. The rangers in Manatee River and Myakka River state parks can provide information on the locations of these flights.
The great white heron (white variant of the great blue heron) is primarily found south of Fort Myers. According to locals, one has resided at the southern tip of Fort Myers beach on Estero Island for several years. This magnificent bird can often be seen by walking the waterfronts of the exclusive condominiums on the bay side of this island.
How to See the Herons and Egrets in Florida
Most herons and egrets can be readily observed from automobiles, but to really see them and the secretive species well, a walk along a park boardwalk, or a canoe/kayak ride is more effective. On salt water, manatees and dolphins can be a serendipitous addition to a birding kayak trip.
The secretive species are normally seen only after careful observation while slowly walking or paddling and sometimes are completely overlooked even when plentiful.
Interesting Behaviors of Herons and Egrets
Most species are slow moving stalkers that may stand peering into the water several minutes until prey comes along. Then a sharp stabbing motion into the water is rewarded with a fish that is swallowed with a quick backward toss of the head. Larger fish may be stabbed repeatedly until the bird is satisfied it has died and then swallowed.
Exceptions to this rule are the snowy egret, tricolored heron, and reddish egret. These species also often dash, pirouette, and even stab under opened wings while chasing prey.
At the nest, courting pairs display sequences of wing flapping, throwing the head back and clattering their bills, and swaying side to side. As nesting is normally on islands and other isolated locations, these behaviors are rarely observed, but can be seen in ponds north of Tampa, Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island, Briggs Wildlife Refuge north of and the 10,000 Islands south of Marco Island.
Spring Plumage Changes of Herons and Egrets
February marks the onset of the breeding season for herons and egrets (which, in Florida, extends into May for some species). At this time of year, these magnificent birds develop filamentous feathers called “aigrettes” along their backs, breasts, heads, and/or necks and their lores (bare areas behind the bill and between the eyes) become intensely colored in yellow, green, red, or blue. These pigmented areas and feathers are displayed and shaken as part of their courtship displays. In the late 1800's these birds were hunted almost to extinction by hunters providing these feathers to the millinery industry. The reddish egret has not yet recovered from this decimation.
At a distance, these birds please all viewers. Up close they titillate the visual sense as they develop their breeding plumages. Watching their courtship displays at heronries provides hours of pleasurable gratification.
Click here for more bird groups.
Great Egret Portrait
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Little Blue Heron Non-breeding
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Great Egret
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Snowy Egret
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Great-blue Heron
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