April 16, 2026

I am an adult Tricolored Heron

When I was younger I was more rusty

Occasionally my beak becomes a bright aqua color

It's a sign that I am feeling lusty.

Location: Orlando Wetlands, Christmas FL

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tricolored_Heron/overview

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

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December 14, 2023

I am known as a Tricolored Heron

Although I have way more colors than three

When I'm breeding I get maroon feathers on my neck

And bright aqua skin on my beak.

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tricolored_Heron/id

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 7, 2023

I am a Tricolored Heron

I have a wingspan of about a yard

That is - the US measurement equal to 3 feet -

Not an acre, which would make flying hard.

Location: Cocoa Rico Ranchetts

Sources: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/waterbirds/tricolored-heron/

https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/basickitchenandfoodservicemanagement/chapter/imperial-and-u-s-systems-of-measurement/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 8, 2022

I am a Tricolored Heron

In the US I'm found in the south and the east

From Florida to Maine, and west to Texas

I'm an s-shaped necked, tricolored, sexy beast.

Location: C 23/24 Reservoir, St. Lucie County

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Egretta_tricolor/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 12, 2021

I am a Tricolored Heron

Although technically I have more than three hues

There's white, and pink and some yellow, 

And a few different shades of grey-blue.

Location: Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tricolored_Heron/overview

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 20, 2021

I am a Tricolored Heron

Looking somewhat pensive

I'm contemplating a nose job

But I couldn't catch fish and it would be too expensive.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tricolored_Heron/id

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 7, 2019

Location: St. Augustine, St. Augustine Alligator Park

I'm an immature Tricolored Heron
I'm more reddish where my mom is blue-grey
Right now I eat what my mom feeds me,
When I'm grown I'll eat by dancing ballet.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Tricolored Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 1, 2019

Location: St. Augustine, St. Augustine Alligator Park

We are immature Little Blue Herons
With immature Tri-color Herons in the mix
We are at the age where begging our moms for food
Is still how we get our kicks.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 11, 2019

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

I am a Tricolored Heron
I found a stick to take back to my mate.
She will arrange it to make the nest pretty
And we'll hatch eggs in our palatial estate.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Tricolored Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

February 26, 2019

Location: Sebastian Inlet

A Tricolored Heron (t.r) and a Snowy Egret
Can mate but the result will barren.
The young will be multicolored, and have yellow feet,
And might be mistaken for a Reef Heron.

(Note: I photographed the bird mentioned in the article below back in 2013, and all these years I thought it was the Reef Heron, which it was identified as at the time. I just saw this article and realized that my life list is a lie.)

Sources: Heron Hybrid

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 6, 2019

Location: Viera Wetlands

I am a Tricolored Heron with an Alligator,
We're living side by side in peace.
I'm unafraid, at least for now,
Until the Alligator decides he's hungry!

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 1, 2019

Location: Vero Beach Wetlands

On the left is a Great Egret, on the right a Tricolor,
They appear to both be the same size.
But the Tricolor is in water to his ankles,
And the Great Egret is up to his thighs.

(This picture illustrates the concept that often binoculars, or in this case a camera lens,  can distort the size of a bird. I know that Great Egrets are larger than Tricolored Herons, but it wasn't till I looked closely that I could see why they appearer to be the same size.)

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 8, 2018

Location: Viera Wetlands

I am a Tricolored Heron.
I tend to forage alone when I hunt.
I stalk, chase, or wait for small fish to come by. 

And if disturbed, I make a short, gutterral grunt.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Tricolor Heron
xeno-canto Sharing bird sounds from around the world - Tricolored Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 23, 2018

Location: Lakeland, Circle B Bar Reserve

I am a Tricolored Heron
Shown here standing upon one leg.
When I'm nesting I can be prolific -
I can lay up to seven pale blue-green eggs.

Sources: Audubon Guide to North American Birds - Tricolored Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 14, 2018

Location: St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

We are immature Tricolored Herons
Right now our beaks are orange and grey.
When we're adults our beaks will be orange and black,
Or blue and black when we're in the family way.

Sources: Wildscreen Arkive - Tricoloured Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 12, 2018

Location: St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

We are immature Tricolored Herons
We mostly look like our daddy and mummy.
When adult, we'll have fewer red feathers,
But we'll still have a white stripe down our neck and tummy.

Sources: Cornell Lab - Tricolor Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

February 3, 2018

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

I am a Tricolored Heron
When I'm fly, I'm easy to spot.
My wings are dark on the top, and white underneath,
When I flap it's lights on/lights off.

(Thanks to David Simpson for this excellent imagery.)

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 28, 2018

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

Spoonbills and Ibis are tactile feeders,
They feel around for something to grab.
Tricolored Herons are visual feeders,
They patiently look for something to stab.

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson