Little Blue Heron
Little Blue HeronLittle Blue HeronLittle Blue HeronLittle Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Silhouette: L. Shyamal · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Galápagos Islands
50 Verified sightings at Galápagos Islands From 2019 to 2026
32,330 Verified sightings across all 89 parks From 2019 to 2026
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Little Blue Heron

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 →

Closest Relatives at Galápagos Islands

Snowy Egret
LC

Snowy Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta thula

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Tricolored Heron
LC

Tricolored Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta tricolor

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Striated Heron
LC

Striated Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Butorides striata

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Lava Heron
Endemic

Lava Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Butorides sundevalli

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Cattle Egret
LC

Cattle Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubulcus ibis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Great Blue Heron
LC

Great Blue Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea herodias

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
LC

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nyctanassa violacea

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Great Egret
LC

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Green Heron

Green Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Butorides virescens

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Black-crowned Night Heron
LC

Black-crowned Night Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nycticorax nycticorax

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Brown Pelican
LC

Brown Pelican

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pelecanus occidentalis

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
~90%
2 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~60%
3 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~60%
4 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~60%
5 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
~50%
6 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~50%
7 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~50%
8 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
9 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
10 Paracas National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
~40%
11 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~40%
12 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~40%
13 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
~40%
14 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~40%
15 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
16 Los Haitises National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~30%
17 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
~30%
18 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~30%
19 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~30%
20 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
21 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~30%
22 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~30%
23 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
24 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
25 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
26 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~20%
27 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
28 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
29 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
30 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
31 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
32 Utría National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~20%
33 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
34 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
35 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
36 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
37 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
38 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
39 Main Ridge Forest Reserve 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
~10%
40 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
41 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
42 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
43 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~10%
44 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
45 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
46 Isla del Coco National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
47 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
~10%
48 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
49 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~10%
50 Cordillera Azul National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
<5%
51 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
52 Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
53 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
<5%
54 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
<5%
55 Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park 🇯🇲 Jamaica
<5%
56 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
57 Madidi National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
<5%
58 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
<5%
59 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
60 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
61 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
62 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
63 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
64 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
65 Tijuca National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
66 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
67 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
68 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
69 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
70 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
71 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
72 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
73 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
74 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
75 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
76 Anavilhanas National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
77 Amboró National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
Insufficient data
78 Canaima National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
Insufficient data
79 Podocarpus National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
80 Serra dos Órgãos National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
81 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
Insufficient data
82 Iberá National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
Insufficient data
83 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
84 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
85 Iguaçu National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
86 Los Nevados National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
87 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
88 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
89 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Little Blue Heron in Galápagos Islands?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Little Blue Heron sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 50 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Little Blue Heron in Galápagos Islands?

December has the highest sighting rate for Little Blue Heron in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.

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