I took this photo called “Lores of Great Egret During Breeding Season” in High Island, Texas. During March and April, the area between the egrets beak and eyes turns a bright, neon green. This area is called the lores. It indicates that the bird has reached sexual maturity and is ready to mate. The lores of both males and females turn the same color. Within six weeks the color starts to fade. The beak, which turns a bright orange during breeding season, also fades to a duller shade during other times of year.