The herons in Texas are some of the most diverse in the United States. Ten Texas herons can regularly be found in the state, and this thorough article will discuss all ten types of herons in Texas. Moreover, I’ll also discuss some particular traits of these birds. Let’s take a look!
Table of Contents
General Characteristics of Egrets and Herons
Although Texas herons and egrets have unique characteristics, there are plenty of traits that are shared by all members of this family that also includes bitterns. Moreover, it is important to differentiate Texas cranes and herons from one another, as they are different birds completely.
Here are some physical traits possessed by all herons of Texas:
- Long legs that trail behind a bird in flight
- Broad, rounded wings in flight
- Long necks that are tucked in while flying
- Sizable, spear-like bills
- Sexes are monomorphic
Here are some behavioral traits shared by all herons and egrets in Texas:
- Carnivorous diets that feature an assortment of fish, amphibians, rodents, and more
- Aggressive defense of territories from intruders
- All on this list nest colonially
- Slow and methodical foraging style
- Monogamous during the breeding season, but new mates are chosen annually
Texas Herons and Egrets
Great Blue Heron
Identification
Great Blue Herons are certainly one of the most recognizable herons of Texas. They are the tallest of all herons in Texas, with some being more than four feet tall.
There are several subspecies of Great Blue Heron, but the Blue form is the only subspecies that can be found in Texas. Adults have grayish-blue body plumage, gray and white necks, white faces, dull orange bills, and black plumes extending behind their heads.
These creatures have blue-gray plumes on their chests and backs during the breeding season. Immatures look similar to adults, but they lack plumes extending behind their heads. Moreover, they have grayish bills and dark caps.
Behavior
Great Blue Herons in Texas are often easy to find, as they make little effort to conceal themselves while foraging. They are social creatures, as they often breed in rookeries that may contain dozens of nests of other Texas heron species.
Great Blue Herons are the most northerly herons in the United States, so some populations are migratory. However, herons that breed in Texas do not tend to be migratory. Like many gulls, geese, and shorebirds, thousands of Great Blue Herons come to the Lone Star State for the winter.
Distribution and Habitat
This Texas heron can be found throughout the state at any time of year. They are adaptable, having populations in every state save for Hawaii. Indeed, they can thrive almost anywhere with water.
Look for them along rivers, lakes, creeks, marshes, and other freshwater marsh areas. Great Blue Herons may also be observed foraging in fields or pastures on occasion. Their rookeries are situated in trees that are located within a few miles of their foraging locations.
Little Blue Heron
Identification
Little Blue Herons are fairly small herons in Texas, standing about two feet tall. Adults are named for the slate-blue plumage which can be seen covering their entire bodies. Immatures look very similar to Snowy Egrets. The entirely white plumage that these birds have is a stark difference compared to the plumage of adults, leading many to mistake them for a Texas egret. The bills of all Little Blue Heron plumages are bicolored, being pale at the base and dark towards the tip.
Behavior
Little Blue Herons are quite social in the breeding season, as they nest in rookeries with a variety of other species. Individuals can become confrontational during bouts of foraging when they want to defend the areas in which they feed. Little Blue Heron nestlings often attack one another as they try to secure food from their parents. This siblicide causes the death of many baby herons, and it is important to distinguish this behavior from parental infanticide – a behavior seen in some storks.
Distribution and Habitat
This Texas heron species is native to the eastern half of the state where it can be found in plenty of aquatic habitats. They are year-round residents along the Gulf Coast, but they tend to be seasonal in the remainder of eastern Texas. Seeing an east Texas heron such as this in western Texas is rare.
Tricolored Heron
Identification
Tricolored Herons are slightly bigger than a Little Blue Heron, as they stand about 27 inches tall. Birds of all ages are distinctive. Adults have mostly blue-gray plumage, but they also have white bellies and a white stripe extending down their necks.
Additionally, these herons of Texas have a patch of mustard-colored skin in front of their eyes plus yellow legs and bills. Immatures look like adults save for the extensive amount of red feathering that they have on their bodies and necks.
Behavior
Tricolored Herons are seemingly more active than many of the other types of Texas herons and egrets. Indeed, it is not uncommon to see them engaging in sudden bursts of running as they chase down prey. These herons in Texas run with their wings outstretched when doing this, as it is thought that this helps to balance them.
Males regard intruders with hostility during the mating season, with most others being driven away from a nest when they get too close. Pairs are often seen flying circles around a nest as they intentionally make loud flapping noises with their wings.
Distribution and Habitat
Tricolored Herons have a limited range in Texas compared to most of their counterparts on this list. They rarely venture very far inland, as they instead survive in habitats along the Gulf of Mexico. Therefore, seeing one of these herons in north Texas would be quite rare.
Mangrove thickets, brackish water marshes, and lagoons are all good places to search for these birds in the summer. Tricolored Herons seek out locations that are safe from humans and predators for nesting. Therefore, their nests are frequently situated on islands.
Tricolored Herons may move further inland in the nonbreeding season. Watch for them to forage along lakes, ditches, and wetlands at this time.
Green Heron
Identification
Green Herons are the smallest of the Texas heron species, as they are only about 18 inches long at their largest. They are true to their names with their dark green backs and green crowns. Their undersides are a rusty brown color mixed with white streaks. Green Herons have yellow eyes, dark upper mandibles, and yellow lower mandibles. Immatures look similar to adults, but they tend to be duller in their coloration.
Behavior
Green Herons are not as social as many of their counterparts. They may nest colonially, but they are also more content than other herons in Texas to nest by themselves. Both male and female birds attempt to protect the nest from threats like corvids, blackbirds, mammals, or snakes. Each parent incubates the eggs and both deliver food to the nestlings.
Distribution and Habitat
Few areas of Texas support populations of this heron in Texas for the entire year save for areas adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. The eastern half of the state hosts thousands of pairs during the summer. Meanwhile, the Southwestern part of Texas may be a wintering habitat for this tiny Texas heron species. Green Herons may migrate through the Texas Panhandle, but they do not otherwise tend to spend time in this region.
There aren’t many specific habitat requirements for Green Herons. They may be in a wide array of lakes, wetlands, ponds, and swamps. Thick stands of trees are required for nesting, so it is unlikely that a Green Heron would be found in open marshes away from trees.
Black-crowned Night-heron
Identification
Black-crowned Night-herons are solid-looking herons of Texas that stand about 25 inches tall. They are aptly named with their black crowns and backs. Adults also have white undersides, pale head plumes, pale gray wings, dark bills, and red eyes. Although juveniles look similar to adults for all other birds on this list, young night-herons look quite different than adults. Juveniles are entirely brown with white streaking and orange eyes.
Behavior
Both males and females participate in parenting duties and guard the nest against intruders. Young are up and walking before they learn to fly. Indeed, juveniles often spend a couple of weeks away from the nest on foot before they are capable of flight. True to their name, they are a largely nocturnal Texas heron.
Distribution and Habitat
The entirety of Texas supports populations of Black-crowned Night-herons at some point in the year. They can be found year-round from the Gulf of Mexico to central Texas. The northern portion of the state hosts this species in the summer, while southwest Texas supports wintering Black-crowned Night-herons.
Wetlands, marshes, ponds, and swamps are all good places to search for these elusive types of herons in Texas. Black-crowned Night-herons may nest on the ground or in trees. Therefore, they are more willing to spend time in wetlands with no trees nearby compared to some of their counterparts.
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Identification
Yellow-crowned Night-herons are not as stocky as Black-crowned Night-herons, but they are nonetheless still chunky. They are slightly taller than their black-crowned counterparts, being around 26 inches tall.
Yellow-crowned Night-herons are appropriately named, as adults have a namesake stripe that extends down the center of their crowns. Adults have blue-gray plumage that is mottled with darker feathers. They also have dark bills, orange eyes, pale head plumes, and black and white faces. Juveniles have mottled brown and white feathers.
Behavior
This heron in Texas has a slow, methodical foraging style. All family members–even the nestlings–defend the nest from intruders.
Distribution and Habitat
Watch for these herons in Texas to appear in the eastern half of the state during the breeding season. Texas does not typically support populations of Yellow-crowned Night-herons during the nonbreeding season. Meanwhile, this species is considered to be rare in western Texas.
Areas in which there are plenty of crustaceans are good places to look for these Texas herons. Therefore, look for them in lagoons and brackish water wetlands near the Gulf Coast. Away from the coast, they may be found near creeks, swamps, and quiet forested areas with ponds.
Great Egret
Identification
A Great Egret in Texas is a bird that’s hard to miss thanks to its striking plumage and 40-inch stature. Adults are entirely white with prominent yellowish bills. They add pale plumes to their body feathers in the mating season.
Behavior
Great Egrets display behavior that is consistent with that of others in their family. They make little effort to conceal themselves throughout the day, as they often forage in locations where they are quite apparent.
Distribution and Habitat
Great Egrets can be found along the Gulf of Mexico year-round. Although they migrate throughout Texas, these types of egrets in Texas only breed in the eastern half of the state.
These herons in Texas are versatile, being able to thrive in most aquatic habitats. While they may forage in areas with no trees on their migration, these egrets of Texas need trees for their nests.
Snowy Egret
Identification
Snowy Egrets look like miniature versions of Great Egrets with their all-white plumage and ornate plumes in the breeding season. Standing about 24 inches tall, they have yellow facial skin between their light eyes and dark bills. The yellow feet at the end of their black legs are distinctive. Immatures are similar to adults save for their pale green legs.
Behavior
Snowy Egret parents share parenting duties, with both sexes incubating the eggs. Males and females may pass a stick to their mate when they relieve them of incubation duties. These Texas egret species are quite social, so they are routinely in the presence of others at all times of the year.
Distribution and Habitat
Like many egrets of Texas, Snowy Egrets can be found along the Gulf of Mexico throughout the year. Although they migrate throughout Texas, they only breed in the eastern portions of the state.
Snowy Egrets in Texas enjoy foraging on mudflats, shorelines, marshes, and other shallow bodies of water where they consume fish and amphibians. They rely on trees to provide them with nesting habitat during the breeding season.
Reddish Egret
Identification
Reddish Egrets stand about 30 inches tall. They are unique among Texas herons in that there are two distinct adult plumages recognized in the state. The most common is the dark morph, which features birds that have slate gray bodies paired with red head and neck feathers. White morphs have entirely white plumage. All have a bicolored bill that is pale at the base and dark at the tip.
Behavior
Reddish Egrets are active, charismatic birds. They are often spotted running around their habitats after their prey. Stretching out their wings while hunting is a common behavior for them.
Distribution and Habitat
Those hoping to add this animal to their checklists will have to travel to the Gulf of Mexico. Although they aren’t uncommon here, it is rare to find Reddish Egrets inland because they have strong ties to habitats adjacent to oceans. Indeed, finding a Reddish Egret in Texas away from the coast is quite rare.
This species forages in open habitats near the ocean. Beaches, tidal pools, and lagoons are good places to look for Reddish Egrets at any time of year.
Western Cattle Egret
Identification
Western Cattle Egrets stand about 20 inches tall. They are compact with thick necks and stout, yellow bills. Western Cattle Egrets are largely white overall, but they get toasted marshmallow-colored feathers on their crowns, backs, and chests in the breeding season.
Behavior
Many believe Western Cattle Egrets are among the most social of all herons and egrets in Texas. These birds are typically associating with others at all times of the year. While most of the other birds in this family do not forage with others, Western Cattle Egrets are happy to have others in their presence while foraging.
Distribution and Habitat
Western Cattle Egrets are fairly recent arrivals, as they colonized the state about 60 years ago. They can be found in southern Texas throughout the year, while they travel to most of the remainder of the state in the breeding season.
Western Cattle Egrets do not forage in habitats like the ones that other herons of Texas frequent. Instead, watch for them to appear in pastures and fields.