ID 2 egrets, Holly Beach Rd, Laguna Vista, TX, USA (1 Viewer)

[River Girl]

I can easily identify Reddish Egrets, white and red, but in this photo there seems to be a White-morph and a Snowy, except the smaller bird, with yellow feet, has a very large bill, and the larger bird has yellow lores. What do you think? Thank you

 

[nartreb]

I don't see two different sizes here - the birds look the same size to me. The one with yellow feet is of course Snowy.
The more erect bird (on viewer's left) is mostly identical. It can't be Reddish, since it doesn't have a pinkish bill. It's not juvenile Little Blue, by leg color and bill color.

I am a bit confused by the fact that the left bird's lores are incompletely yellow - maybe it's not fully adult? But it's got to be a Snowy.

 

[River Girl]

I don't see two different sizes here - the birds look the same size to me. The one with yellow feet is of course Snowy.
The more erect bird (on viewer's left) is mostly identical. It can't be Reddish, since it doesn't have a pinkish bill. It's not juvenile Little Blue, by leg color and bill color.

I am a bit confused by the fact that the left bird's lores are incompletely yellow - maybe it's not fully adult? But it's got to be a Snowy.

Thank you.

 

[njlarsen]

The right hand bird is clearly a Juvenile/immature bird, based on both bill and leg color. I hope the difference that I also see in size is just difference in distance, which sometimes screw up size estimation.
Niels

 

[River Girl]

The right hand bird is clearly a Juvenile/immature bird, based on both bill and leg color. I hope the difference that I also see in size is just difference in distance, which sometimes screw up size estimation.
Niels

I understand, and I went back to see if I had any other photos where they were closer and I did not. Thank you.

 

[hookem2010]

Juvenile white-morhp reddish wgret and snowy egret

 

[River Girl]

Thank you for your reply. When I watched the larger bird move I was certain it was a White-morph but other comments disagreed. I wondered about it not having a pink bill but have not found a reference to bill coloring as a juvenile. I appreciate your interest and input.