Habitat: This species can be found near freshwater sources such as marshes and along rivers. Distribution: Species reported from eastern United States and Mexico to central Peru, southeastern Brazil and Paraguay. Natural History Notes: So far, no breeding has been reported in Panama. Conservation status according to IUCN 2008 Red list: Least Concern (LC). It is a resident species. Characteristics: The total length of this species varies between 22 inches and 26 inches (measured from tip of bill to end of tail). The bill of this heron is bluish at the base and blackish at the tip and the legs are greenish. The adults will usually keep the bluish coloration with a reddish-brown head and neck. However, the juvenile will have a variable coloration of the beak and will have paler coloration of the head and the legs, from pale green to pale pink.