Great Blue Herons

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Great Blue Herons - Description

Photo courtesy of
British Columbia Adventure Network © 1996-2003
Interactive Broadcasting Corporation

Great Blue Herons are the largest birds belonging to the Heron family in North America. They are beautiful birds with long, rounded wings, very long necks and extraordinarily long legs. At full height Great Blue Herons reach over 3 feet and have a wingspan of over 70 inches. These birds have long yellowish bills tapering to a point at the end. Great Blue Herons have gray upper bodies. Their necks are streaked with white, black and brown.

Males are larger than females and have a puffy plume of feathers behind their heads. The Great Blue Heron is unlikely to be confused with other wading birds. These stately birds have a slow, methodical pace. The Great Blue Heron is considered one of the most recognizable of American birds. It is the most widely distributed and most commonly sighted among American Herons. It flies with slow, graceful strokes of its powerful broad wings. The most common sight is when the Great Blue Heron stands in a motionless, somewhat dignified position in the shallow waters of a stream, bog or marsh.

scientific name - Ardea herodias life span - 15 years on the average

Great Blue Herons - Habitat

Great Blue Herons can be found in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Some populations may migrate to Central and South America during the winter months. These birds inhabit territories near rivers, marshes, saltwater shores, swamps and lake edges. Great Blue Herons nest in trees close to water.