Egretta caerulea
Silhouette: L. Shyamal · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%
The little blue heron (Egretta caerulea) is a small heron of the genus Egretta. It is a small, darkly colored heron with a two-toned bill. Juveniles are entirely white, bearing resemblance to the snowy egret. During the breeding season, adults develop different coloration on the head, legs, and feet.
They have a range that encompasses much of the Americas, from the United States to northern South America. Some populations are migratory. They can be found in both saltwater and freshwater ecosystems. Their preference for either one depends on where they live.
Nesting behaviors are documented by numerous sources. The adults build nests in trees, in colonies with other bird species. The number of eggs laid varies from place to place. The young mature quickly, requiring little attention from adults after about nineteen days of age. Both young and adults are sometimes preyed on by other species. Adults hunt fish, crabs, and other small animals. As with clutch sizes, diet can vary regionally.
The population of E. caerulea is declining. Many possible reasons for this have been proposed. Exposure to heavy metals has been found to have detrimental effects on young birds. The little... Wikipedia →
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | São Luís | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 2 | Panama City | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 3 | Orlando | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Miami | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Barranquilla | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 6 | Havana | 🇨🇺 Cuba | |
| 7 | Lima | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 8 | Vitória | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 9 | Houston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | San Diego | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Busch Gardens Tampa | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Columbus Zoo and Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | The Maryland Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Cameron Park Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Hutchinson Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Florida Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | South Carolina Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Little Blue Heron sighting in Machalilla National Park on a given day, based on 11 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 210th most-seen of the 248 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
December
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Little Blue Heron in Machalilla National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January to November, the lowest months. That is one of Machalilla National Park's driest months, with about 25 mm of rain against 140 mm in February.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Little Blue Heron sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
61st of 71
Of the 71 parks where we can rate Little Blue Heron sightings, Machalilla National Park ranks 61st at under 5%. The best odds are in Caroni Swamp (Trinidad and Tobago, about 90%), Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (United States, about 70%) and Palo Verde National Park (Costa Rica, about 60%). All parks ranked.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Little Blue Heron is recorded against all the birds logged in Machalilla National Park (11 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
