The east coast bounds them on the opposite side of North America. While breeding, the heron tends to stay in the eastern half of the United States with few populations along the northwest coast. When non-breeding, they tend to disperse primarily in the southern U.S. down through northern South America and the Caribbean Islands. Small vagrant populations have been found in winter to Hawaii and in eastern United Kingdom. High latitudes, aridity, and altitude all limit their range.
Some populations migrate.
Sedentary populations in the southern east coast and west coast of the U.S. move very little throughout the year. After breeding, however, herons disperse, perhaps to seasonally forage in more favorable areas. This dispersal can run into fall migration around mid-September, when they fly south. Its bill is dark with a long, sharp point and its legs are orange. The female adult tends to be smaller with duller and lighter plumage versus the male, especially during breeding.