A white heron-like bird in northeastern Norwich, VT, has attracted considerable attention with numerous birders coming to observe and photograph. Identification has been uncertain, but the most likely candidates have an immature of either Little Blue Heron or Snowy Egret. Perhaps the most thorough discussion of how to distinguish these rather similar birds has been in David Sibley's sibleyguides website in 2012. As he pointed out, a remarkable amount of individual variation among immatures of these species makes it difficult to find decisive characters for species identification.  

From his discussion it appears that the Norwich bird was a Snowy Egret, with this identification primarily based on the contrast between the darker leg and a brighter yellowish foot as shown in photos by several photographers. Little Blues are not known to show such a contrast.

Special thanks go to Kevin and Cathy Hybels for first finding this Norwich bird and to Sara Eisenhower for help in identifying it. Thanks are extended also to numerous other birders who have contributed in this identification through their observations, reports, discussions, and photographs.

George Clark
Norwich, VT  

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