The Little Blue Heron is a small heron. It breeds from the Gulf states of the USA through Central America and the Caribbean south to Peru and Uruguay. It is a resident breeder in most of its range, but some northern breeders migrate to the southeastern USA or beyond in winter. There is post-breeding dispersal to well north of the nesting range, as far as the border between the US and Canada.
The Little Blue Heron's breeding habitat is sub-tropical swamps. It nests in colonies, often with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. 3-7 light blue eggs are laid.
This species is about 60 cm long and weighs 325 gm. It is a medium-large, long-legged, heron with a long pointed blue or greyish bill with a black tip.
Breeding adult birds have blue-grey plumage except for the head and neck, which are purplish and have long blue filamentous plumes. The legs and feet are dark blue. Sexes are similar back.
Non-breeding adults have dark blue head and neck plumage and paler legs. Young birds are all white except for dark wing tips and have yellowish legs. They gradually acquire blue plumage as they mature.
White Little Blue Herons often mingle with Snowy Egrets. The Snowy Egret tolerates their presence more than Little Blue Herons in adult plumage. These young birds actually catch more fish when in the presence of the Snowy Egret and also gain a measure of protection from predators when they mix into flocks of white herons. It is plausible that this is because of these advantages, they remain white for their first year.
The Little Blue Heron stalks its prey methodically in shallow water, often running as it does so. It eats fish, frogs crustaceans, small rodents and insects
Heron Mdogo wa Bluu ni heron mdogo. Mimea hiyo huenea kutoka katika maeneo ya Ghuba ya Amerika ya Kusini hadi Amerika ya Kati na Karibea, kusini hadi Peru na Uruguay. Ni mfugaji wa makazi katika sehemu kubwa ya eneo lake, lakini baadhi ya wafugaji wa kaskazini huhamia kusini mashariki mwa Marekani au zaidi ya hapo wakati wa majira ya baridi. Baada ya kuzaliana, wao huenea kaskazini mwa eneo la kuzaliana, hadi mpaka wa Marekani na Kanada. Mbuzi huyo mdogo wa bluu huzaana katika mabwawa ya kitropiki. Yeye hufanya viota katika makundi, mara nyingi pamoja na vipepeo wengine, kwa kawaida kwenye vijia vya vijiti katika miti au vichaka. Kwa kawaida, mayai ya rangi ya bluu ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi ya rangi. Aina hii ina urefu wa sentimita 60 na uzito wa gramu 325! Ni ndege wa ukubwa wa kati, mwenye miguu mirefu, mwenye mdomo mrefu wenye ncha ya bluu au ya kijivu na ncha nyeusi. Ndege wazima wanaozaliana wana manyoya ya rangi ya bluu-kijivu isipokuwa kichwa na shingo, ambazo ni za rangi ya zambarau na zina manyoya marefu ya rangi ya bluu. Miguu na miguu ni ya rangi ya bluu nyeusi. Jinsia ni sawa nyuma. Watu wazima wasiozaana wana manyoya ya rangi ya bluu nyeusi ya kichwa na shingo na miguu nyeupe. Ndege wachanga ni weupe wote isipokuwa ncha za mabawa yenye rangi nyeusi na wana miguu ya manjano. Wanapokomaa, hatua kwa hatua wanapata manyoya ya bluu. Mara nyingi ndege aina ya White Little Blue Heron huchanganyika na ndege aina ya Snowy Egrets. Mnyama anayeitwa Snowy Egret huvumilia uwepo wao zaidi kuliko Mnyama anayeitwa Little Blue Heron ambaye ana manyoya ya watu wazima. Ndege hawa wachanga huvua samaki wengi zaidi wanapokuwa pamoja na Snowy Egret na pia hupata ulinzi fulani dhidi ya wawindaji wanapochangamana na makundi ya ndege aina ya white heron. Inawezekana kwamba ni kwa sababu ya faida hizo, wanabaki weupe kwa mwaka wao wa kwanza. Ndege anayeitwa Little Blue Heron hufuata mawindo yake kwa utaratibu katika maji yasiyo na kina kirefu, na mara nyingi hukimbia huku akifanya hivyo. Yeye hula samaki, vyura, wanyama wa baharini, panya wadogo, na wadudu