Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor), Glendale Recharge Ponds, NW basin, Maricopa County

This Tricolored Heron was discovered by Tommy DeBardeleben and Jim Kopitzke and photographed by Jim Kopitzke on 31 July 2012.

General notes to the photo editor including why this species is being submitted to AZFO:

Tricolored Heron is casual in Arizona, most often in summer. Most records are of immatures.

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. 

31 July 2012, photo by Jim Kopitzke