Juvenile snowy egret

This juvenile snowy egret is one of the many water birds that can be viewed at close range while gliding through the rivers and wetlands of Tortuguero National Park. There are 309 different species of birds in the park.

This photo shows the difference between a juvenile snowy egret and an adult. Juveniles have a yellowish green color on the back of their legs, and that coloration is visible in this photo, if the photo is enlarged by clicking on it.

Snowy egrets are medium sized for egrets, with a height of 64 cm. (25 in.) and a wingspan of 1 meter (39 in.). They are known locally at garceta nivosa. Their scientific name is egretta thula.

Snowy egrets are found in the coastal lowlands of both the Caribbean coast, where Tortuguero is located, and the Pacific coast, where Tamarindo is located. The climate of the two coasts is quite different. I talked about the huge amounts of rainfall in Tortuguero yesterday. In Tamarindo on the northwest Pacific coast, we have dry sunny weather much of the year.