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Great Blue Heron
Photos by Bruce
Dayton
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ORDER:
Ciconiiformes
FAMILY: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns - 12
Species)
SPECIES:
Great Blue Heron
(Ardea herodias)
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Great Blue Heron |
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The Great Blue Heron is a common sight in the wetlands of most of North America. It can be seen standing in shallow water, waiting patiently for a fish or a frog to come close enough so that they can spear it with their long sharp beak. |
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SIZE |
Large long-necked, long-legged wading bird, which stands 3 to 4 feet tall. |
| DESCRIPTION | It has blue-gray feathers on most of its body and a white
crown and face with a a black stripe above the eye. It has shaggy neck
and back plumes with a long pointed yellow bill.
Sexes are similar in appearance but the males are usually bigger than the females. |
| NESTING | They normally breed in colonies in trees close to lakes or other wetlands. Clutch size ranges from 3-6 eggs, which are incubated in 26 to 30 days. The male gathers sticks for the for the nest which the female builds lining it with small twigs, bark, and conifer needles. Both parents incubate the eggs. |
| RANGE | This is one of the most common herons of North America and Central America. |
| HABITAT | The Great Blue Heron's preferred habitat is near marshes, rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands. |
| DIET | It can be observed feeding in shallow water and streams, where it spears fish or frogs with its long, sharp bill. Its varied diet can also include insects, snakes and rodents. |
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| Great Blue Heron | |
| Montezuma
National Wildlife Refuge Seneca County, New York |
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| GBHr_047A_009190 | |
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| GBHr_047A_016600 | GBHr_047A_200903 |
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Great Blue Heron Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes |
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| INTERESTING FACTS |
| Aquatic birds |
| Bird that live on or near the water. Most aquatic birds show some kind of adaptation to their environment, such as webbing, as found in the gulls. |
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Please email with any ideas or comments concerning this web page. |
| The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit. |
NOTE: This site will be updated as time and pictures become available.
Visit Mammals of North America
Great Blue Heron
( Ardea herodias )
Updated 10-19-2008