Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor), Lake Havasu, Mohave County

This Tricolored Heron was discovered by Lauren Harter and David Vander Pluym on 10 August 2011, and has been seen sporadically since then. It was photographed by David Vander Pluym on 02 September 2011 and by Lauren Harter on 04 September 2011,when it was being chased by a Ring-billed Gull. 

Tricolored Heron is casual in Arizona. Most records are of immatures and come from southern Arizona; there are very few records from the Lower Colorado River Valley. This is the first report for both Mohave County, Arizona and San Bernardino County, California.

No other North American heron shows overall dark plumage with contrasting white belly and underwing coverts. The blue-gray head indicates this is an adult.  The long, slender bill is also distinctive. 

02 September 2011, photo by David Vander Pluym

04 September 2011, photos by Lauren Harter

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