Herons and Egrets - Tanzania and Zanzibar

[KevinA]

Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea

Western Reef Heron, Ardea gularis, Egretta gularis

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis

It took me a while to id this bird as it has a black bill and Great Egrets have yellow bills. Ir turns out that the African sub-species Ardea alba melanorhynchos has a black bill when in breeding plumage. Every day's a school day
Great Egret, Ardea alba melanorhynchos

 

[JimFox]

Great captures Kevin! What a treasure trove of birds.

The last Egret that has the black bill? So it's bill is only black when it's breeding? Otherwise the beak is able to change to a yellow color? That would be amazing, and I wonder how it's done?

 

[KevinA]

Great captures Kevin! What a treasure trove of birds.

The last Egret that has the black bill? So it's bill is only black when it's breeding? Otherwise the beak is able to change to a yellow color? That would be amazing, and I wonder how it's done?

Apparently so Jim. Isn't nature wonderful

 

[AlanLichty]

Neat shots of one of my favorite birds. I really like the second image with the nicely detailed shot of the Western Reef Heron taking flight.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
View attachment 70009

Western Reef Heron, Ardea gularis, Egretta gularis
View attachment 70010

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
View attachment 70011

It took me a while to id this bird as it has a black bill and Great Egrets have yellow bills. Ir turns out that the African sub-species Ardea alba melanorhynchos has a black bill when in breeding plumage. Every day's a school day
Great Egret, Ardea alba melanorhynchos
View attachment 70012

Great series, Kevin

 

[KevinA]

Neat shots of one of my favorite birds. I really like the second image with the nicely detailed shot of the Western Reef Heron taking flight.

Thank you Alan

Great series, Kevin

Thank you Eric