The Little Blue Heron occurs through much of North America, Central America, the Caribbean and South America.
Adult birds have a dark blue body with a deep reddish-purple head and neck feathers.
The colors get more intense during the breeding season.
The bill is two-toned: blue-grey at the base and a dark tip.
Young birds are all white in their first year, except for the dark wing tips.
This species is rather similar to the much larger and bigger-billed Reddish Egret.
Immatures molting into adult plumage are a patchwork of white and blue.
Immature Little Blue Herons are similar to immature Snowy Egrets.

1st & 2nd photo: Brazos Bend State Park, Texas, USA, 2 March 2009
3rd photo: Brazos Bend State Park, Texas, USA, 27 October 2006
4th photo: Brazos Bend State Park, Texas, USA, 5 November 2006
5th photo: Galveston, Texas, USA, 28 October 2006