Adult bird: Bluish-purple head, throat and upper breast.

Adult: Blue-purple body. Green back and wings. Blue facial shield. Red bill tipped with yellow. Long yellow legs. Notice the long toes. 

Immature: Brownish to olive above. Paler under parts. Dark bill. Young "mew" like kittens.  

Habitat: Salt and rreshwater marshes. Rivers and lakes. Look for them where there are lily pads.

A Florida resident. 

Text by Mary Jean Rogers, West Volusia Audubon.

Click thumnail below for larger images