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Great Blue Heron


Picture
The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a large bird, 39 to 52 inches in length, and it is our largest wading bird.  It is largely gray in color with a pale or yellowish bill, a bold black stripe above the eye, and head, chest, and wing plumes that serve to give this bird a somewhat shaggy appearance.


This bird is sometimes confused with the Sandhill Crane, but it flies with its neck in a crook rather than extended like the Sandhill Crane.  In southern Florida, an all-white variation of the Great Blue Heron, known as the Great White Heron, can be found.  This form is sometimes confused with the Great Egret, but it is larger than the Great Egret and has greenish-yellow rather than black legs.  These birds can be found in both freshwater and saltwater habitats.


Great Blue Herons feed on a variety of prey including fish, frogs, mice, small birds, and even insects.  Because of its varied diet, this bird can stay farther north during the winter months than some other species can.  The voice of the Great Blue Heron is a harsh squawking sound.


Click here for a range map, vocalizations, and additional information. 

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  • Home
  • Animals
    • Birds >
      • Avian Taxonomy
      • Bird Species Profiles
    • Mammal Species Profiles
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians >
      • Frog and Toad Species Profiles
    • Fish
    • Arthropods >
      • Arthropod Species Profiles
  • Plants
    • Native Plant Societies
    • Eastern Plant Identification Guide
  • Fungi
    • Fungi Species Profiles
  • Protists
  • Nature Products Store
  • Cell Phone Ringtones
  • Madbird Feeder Cam
  • Ramblings of the Madbird Biologist
  • Bird Videos
  • News in Science
  • Nature Inspired Recipes
  • An Introduction to Scientific Classification and Naming
  • Birds in the Classroom
  • Resources
  • About Me