Greetings!
Having reviewed the photos, and poured thru all my
birding books, I have come to the following
conclusion:
We are in deep trouble here ;)

To synopsize :

Lores - Yellow, indicates Snowy Egret (blue-gray for
LBHE)
Leg Color - Yellow, indicates Snowy Egret (blue-gray
for LBHE)

These 2 features are the ones most commonly used to
differentiate Snowy Egret and imm Little Blue Heron.

Wing Color - None of the pictures I've seen show any
gray on the wings. They look pure white. (BUT the
images could be over-exposed). Indicative of Snowy
Egret.

However:

Bill Color - Paler at base, darker tip, indicative of
Little Blue. But (per Kaufman) within specifications
for an Immature Snowy, especially given the dark mud
in the area - Inconclusive

Bill Thickness at the base - it LOOKS thick and broad
for a Snowy Egret (especially Wilson's shots, but also
in the Sullivan's). Comparing it directly with the
pics I took of the Nisqually Snowy, and others I have
taken in CA, the bill looks thicker than a Snowy bill.
BUT i am not sure I have seen a picture of an
immature Snowy Egret bill. But it leans me towards
Little Blue.

Posture - all the pics show the bird holding its LONG
neck upright. All my pics of Snowys they are
typically 'coiled' back and not straight. The neck
looks long as well. Lean towards Little Blue.

Behaviour - the dancing around, and chasing thru the
water is more like Snowy Egret. The Little Blues I've
seen hunt more like Herons, stalking prey from the
shore or shallow water. Not chasing around like that.

Conclusions - The coloration appears to be Snowy
Egret. The posture and body structure seem to
possibly lean towards Little Blue Heron.

I dug out my one bird guide for European birds, and it
does not seem to fit a Little Egret or Western Reef
Heron.

Does anyone have access to a guide for Asian Herons?

This is a TOUGH bird!

Please feel free to punch holes all thru this. It is
one of the reasons I posted it ;)

Guy



Guy McWethy
Renton, WA
mailto: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com

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