The
little blue heron is unique amongst herons as it is the only species with two distinct color morphs for mature and immature birds, with the adult bird being mostly slate-blue and the immature almost entirely bold white They stay white through their first summer, fall, and into winter, but start molting in February into the dark color of an adult. Although the little blue heron often lives near saltwater, it is mainly an inland bird. They prefer freshwater areas such as ponds, lakes, marshes, swamps, and lagoons, but also sometimes occupy flooded and dry grasslands, or marine coastlines. Once hunted for its feathers, which were used in the hat-making trade, today the greatest threat to the little blue heron is the loss and degradation of freshwater wetlands. —
arkive.org
