A medium-sized wading bird native to the Americas, characterized by its distinctive blue-gray plumage and slender body. The species inhabits coastal and inland wetland ecosystems across tropical and subtropical regions.
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Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Freshwater and marine wetlands, including marshes, swamps, mangrove forests, shallow coastal areas, estuaries, lagoons, and inland water bodies throughout North, Central, and South America
Ecological Role
Critical predator in aquatic food webs, controlling populations of small fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and invertebrates; acts as a bioindicator for wetland ecosystem health
Morphology
SKIN COATBlue-gray plumage in adult stage, white juvenile phase, feathers provide thermal regulation and water resistance
LIMBS WINGSLong legs adapted for wading, wingspan around 1 m, wings capable of precise maneuvering in dense vegetation
HEAD SENSORYKeen visual predator with binocular vision, specialized for detecting movement in water
BODY STRUCTURESlender body, approximately 0.6 m total length, weight ranges 0.3-0.4 kg, elongated neck, sharp pointed bill
Data Source: TaxonHub Database
Image Credit: Bernard Gagnon
