Everglades-Shark Valley-2005

Yellow-crowned night-heron Nyctanassa violacea -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Identification Tips: Length: 21 inches Wingspan: 44 inches Sexes similar Fairly small, long-legged, short-necked heron Tucks neck in close to body in flight and often at rest, rarely extending it Black bill Leg color varies with age, as with Black Crowns Long legs, with feet and part of legs extending beyond tail in flight Adult: Red eyes Blue-gray neck, chest, back and belly Dark centers to back feathers Pale yellowish forehead and buffy-white crown Black face and chin with broad white auricular stripe Juvenile: Eyes yellowish to amber Head, neck, chest and belly dark gray-brown streaked finely with buff and white Darker cap Wings and back darker brown with small white spots at the tips of the feathers Greater secondary coverts with crisp white edgings and small spots at tips Immature: Gradually acquires adult plumage over 2 years, losing spotting and streaking and gradually acquiring face and body plumage of adult

Common Name: American Alligator Scientific Name: Alligator Mississippians COMMON NAMES: American alligator, Mississippi alligator, Pike-headed alligator, "gator" NAME ETYMOLOGY: Alligator is derived from the Spanish el lagarto which means "the lizard"

Great Blue Heron shot at Shark Valley January of 2005 Great blue heron Ardea herodias -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Identification Tips: Length: 38 inches Wingspan: 70 inches Sexes similar Huge long-legged long-necked wader Usually holds neck in an "S" curve at rest and in flight Long, thick, yellow bill Adult: White crown and face Black plume extending from above and behind eye to beyond back of head Brownish-buff neck with black-bordered white stripe down center of foreneck Blue-gray back, wings and belly Black shoulder Shaggy neck and back plumes in alternate plumage Immature: Black cap Brownish-gray back and upperwings Lacks shaggy neck and back plumes Lacks black plume extending from behind eye

Green heron Butorides virescens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Identification Tips: Length: 14 inches Wingspan: 25 inches Sexes similar Small, short-legged and short-necked heron Yellow legs Tucks neck in close to body in flight and often at rest, rarely extending it Black cap Blue-gray back and wings Adult: Chestnut neck White chin White stripe down center of neck Immature: Reddish-brown and white streaks on head and neck Extensive white spots on wing coverts

Great Egret in flight- 1/1000 sec, f 7, ISO = 800; Canon 70-200mm IS lens. Great egret (Ardea alba) Identification Tips: Length: 32 inches Wingspan: 55 inches Sexes similar Large long-legged long-necked wading bird Usually holds neck in an "S" curve in flight Long, thick yellow bill Black legs and feet Entirely white plumage Juvenile similar to basic-plumaged adult Adult alternate: Shaggy neck and back plumes Similar species: Cattle Egret much smaller with a shorter, stubbier bill and pale legs. Snowy Egret is smaller and has black bill and yellow feet. Immature Little blue Heron is smaller and has a pale bill with a black tip, and green legs. Reddish Egrets (white morph) have pale bills with black tips and blue-gray legs. The "Great White" Heron of southern Florida has yellow legs.

Purple gallinule Porphyrula martinica Identification Tips: Length: 10.5 inches Wingspan: 21 inches Fairly large, duck-like waterbird with short wings and a short tail Very short, thick bill Frequently seen both swimming and walking Often flicks and cocks short tail while walking, exposing white undertail coverts Sexes similar Adult: Red eyes Red bill with yellow tip Pale blue frontal shield above bill Yellow legs and feet Purple head, neck, breast and belly Green back and upperwings Juvenile: Brownish eyes Dark olive or yellowish bill Buff brown head, neck and breast Olive-brown back Greenish upperwings Whitish belly and throat

white egret hunting on lily pads wings spread

Anhinga Anhinga anhinga Identification Tips: Length: 28 inches Wingspan: 47 inches Large, dark waterbird with long, loosely-jointed tail Very long, thin neck Long, pointed bill Often perches with wings spread to dry them Often swims with just head and neck above surface May soar for extended periods, like a hawk Adult male: Black head, neck and body with white plumes and edgings on wing coverts Adult female: Tan head and neck Black body with white plumes and edgings on wing coverts

This Egret was wandering precariously close to the business end of a young alligator. 5 min. after this picture was taken the Egret paid the ultimate price for his/her curiosity and became lunch. All of the birds in the vicinity gave out with a squak when it happened.

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) Identification Tips: Length: 14 inches Wingspan: 25 inches Sexes similar Small, short-legged and short-necked heron Yellow legs Tucks neck in close to body in flight and often at rest, rarely extending it Black cap Blue-gray back and wings Adult: Chestnut neck White chin White stripe down center of neck Immature: Reddish-brown and white streaks on head and neck Extensive white spots on wing coverts

This Snowy Egret has a small fish in its mouth. Snowy egret (Egretta thula) Identification Tips: Length: 20 inches Wingspan: 38 inches Sexes similar Medium-sized long-legged wading bird Usually holds necks in "S" curve in flight Entirely white plumage Adult: Thin black bill and yellow facial skin Black legs with yellow feet Shaggy plumes on head, neck, and back in alternate plumage Immature: Yellow stripe up the back of the black legs ,and yellow feet With pale-based bill when they leave nest, becomes black during autumn Lacks shaggy head, neck and back plumes

Tricolored heron Egretta tricolor Identification Tips: Length: 22 inches Wingspan: 38 inches Sexes similar Medium-sized long-legged long-necked wader Bill fairly long and pointed Variably yellowish or blue-gray bill with black tip Usually holds neck in an "S" curve at rest and in flight White belly and foreneck Adult: Blue-gray head, neck, back and upperwings White line along foreneck In alternate plumage, long blue filamentous plumes about head and neck, and buff ones on the back Immature: Rich chestnut head and neck Chestnut feathering on blue-gray back

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) Identification Tips: Length: 22 inches Wingspan: 38 inches Sexes similar Medium-sized long-legged long-necked wading bird Long, decurved bill Holds neck extended in flight Adult: White body plumage with black tips to outer primaries Bill and facial skin pinkish-red Red legs Immature: Brown head, neck, back and wings White belly Orange bill and facial skin Dull legs Similar species: