Photo: dobak on Flickr / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 372 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
- Genus Egretta
- Species tricolor
Where it lives
Southeastern USA to northern SA
Quick facts
- Weight
- 372 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tricolored Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Tricolored Heron is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) is a species of bird in the Ardeidae family, part of the order Pelecaniformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA se USA to n SA.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 372 g, with a wing length of about 24.9 cm and a tail of around 9.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tricolored Heron?
The Tricolored Heron is a large bird that weighs around 372 g.
Where does the Tricolored Heron live?
The Tricolored Heron is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA se USA to n SA, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Tricolored Heron belong to?
The Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Tricolored Heron eat?
The Tricolored Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Tricolored Heron migrate?
The Tricolored Heron is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Tricolored Heron endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Tricolored Heron make?
1 real field recording of the Tricolored Heron — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Tricolored Heron's range?
The Tricolored Heron has a mapped global range of about 1.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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