GREY-HEADED SWAMPHEN, WAKADAHATCHEE WETLANDS, DELRAY BEACH, FL

   At one time the Grey-headed Swamphen was considered one of six subspecies of the Purple Swamphen, but in 2015 each of these subspecies was elevated to a full species.  The species is not native to Florida, but was introduced in 1999 due to avicultural escapees in Pembroke Pines, FL. Since then it has established itself in various parts of southern Florida.  It was added to the ABA bird checklist in 2013.  The Grey-headed Swamphen is actually native from the Middle East and Indian subcontinent to southern China and northern Thailand.

   We can ID this bird as a Grey-headed Swamphen as follows:

• The bill and the frontal shield are red.  The Purple Gallinule has a pale blue frontal shield and the Common Gallinule has no frontal shield.
• Bluish grey head.

JUVENILE COMMON GALLINULE, WAKADAHATCHEE WETLANDS, DELRAY BEACH, FL

SNOWY EGRET, WAKADAHATCHEE WETLANDS, DELRAY BEACH, FL

CATTLE EGRET IN BREEDING PLUMAGE, WAKADAHATCHEE WETLANDS, DELRAY BEACH, FL

   This Cattle Egret is in its beautiful breeding plumage.  In breeding plumage Cattle Egrets have golden plumes on their head, chest and back.

GREEN IGUANA, WAKADAHATCHEE WETLANDS, DELRAY BEACH, FL

MATING GREAT EGRETS, WAKADAHATCHEE WETLANDS, DELRAY BEACH, FL

   By pure luck we came across these two Great Egrets mating.  It was fascinating to watch.

GREAT EGRETS IN BEAUTIFUL BREEDING PLUMAGE, WAKADAHATCHEE WETLANDS, DELRAY BEACH, FL

   These Great Egrets are all in their beautiful breeding plumage:

•  They have long lacy and delicate plumes on their back that curl over their tail.  These plumes are called aigrettes.  They have stiff quills and are able to be fanned in courtship.
• The lores become bright green.  You can really see this in the third photo.