Great Blue Heron Bird Facts (Ardea herodias)

The Great Blue Heron is a stately wading bird with predominantly blue-gray plumage, long legs, and an S-shaped neck. Its head is white with a black eyebrow stripe extending to a plume, and it has a long, dagger-like yellow bill.

Males and females look alike, although males are typically larger than females. Males also develop elongated plumes on their heads, necks, and backs during the breeding season. Juveniles are duller with a darker crown.

The Great Blue Heron is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

The Great Blue Heron is not typically found in Garden habitats.

The Great Blue Heron can be found in Wetland habitats.

The Great Blue Heron can be found in Coastal habitats.

The Great Blue Heron is not typically found in Urban habitats.

The Great Blue Heron is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

The Great Blue Heron is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

The Great Blue Heron is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Great Blue Heron is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Great Blue Heron is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Great Blue Heron is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Great Blue Heron is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Great Blue Herons inhabit various wetland habitats, including marshes, swamps, rivers, and coastal areas across North and Central America. They are found from southern Canada to northern South America, including the Caribbean.

In the United States, they are widespread and can be seen year-round in many areas, with northern populations moving south for winter. They are also present in parts of coastal Alaska during the summer months.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Great Blue Heron. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Bermuda United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

British Virgin Islands Costa Rica Guadeloupe Jamaica Saint Martin Sint Maarten US Virgin Islands

Species that pass through the area during migration

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Brazil Cape Verde France Greenland Portugal

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Great Blue Heron demonstrates remarkable agility in its hunting technique, striking prey with lightning speed. Its ability to navigate through various wetland habitats and execute precise movements whilst hunting showcases its high level of agility.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not exceptionally strong for its size, the Great Blue Heron possesses sufficient strength to spear and lift sizeable fish from the water. Its large size and ability to carry nesting materials also indicate a decent level of strength.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Great Blue Herons exhibit impressive adaptability, thriving in diverse habitats from sea level to 2,600 metres elevation. Their opportunistic feeding habits, ability to hunt both day and night, and capacity to forage in fields for rodents further demonstrate their adaptable nature.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

While not overtly aggressive, Great Blue Herons display territorial behaviour during breeding season and will defend their nests. Their solitary nature and ability to stand their ground against potential threats contribute to a moderate aggression rating.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Great Blue Heron's endurance is evidenced by its ability to stand motionless for extended periods whilst hunting and its capacity for long-distance flight during migration. However, as a large bird, it may not have the sustained endurance of smaller, more active species.

Great Blue Herons are opportunistic feeders, primarily consuming fish, but also amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and invertebrates. They hunt by standing still or wading slowly, then striking with their sharp bills to spear or grab prey. These adaptable birds may also forage in fields for rodents.

Great Blue Herons are often seen standing motionless in shallow water, waiting to strike at prey with lightning speed. They are generally solitary foragers but may gather in loose colonies for breeding. These birds fly with slow wingbeats, their necks folded in an S-shape and their legs trailing behind.

The Great Blue Heron's primary call is a loud, harsh squawk, often heard when the bird is startled or in flight. During courtship and at breeding colonies, they produce a variety of guttural sounds and bill claps. A typical call might be described as a raspy 'frahnk' or 'gawwk'.

Great Blue Herons typically breed in colonies, often with other wading bird species. Pair formation begins in early spring, with elaborate courtship displays involving neck stretching and bill clapping.

Nests are large platforms of sticks, usually built high in trees near water. Females lay 2-6 pale blue eggs, which both parents incubate for about 28 days.

Chicks are altricial and fledge at about 60 days old, though they may return to the nest for several weeks after for feeding.

The Great Blue Heron typically lives for 15 to 20 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

While the Great Blue Heron is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces threats from habitat loss and degradation of wetlands. Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring wetland habitats, as well as reducing pollution in aquatic ecosystems where these birds feed and breed.

Look for them in wetlands, along shorelines, and in shallow waters
Observe early morning or late afternoon when they're most active
Listen for their distinctive harsh squawk
In flight, note their large size and S-curved neck
Check for nesting colonies in tall trees near water bodies

Adult Great Blue Herons have few natural predators, but eggs and nestlings may fall prey to raccoons, eagles, and large owls.

Great Blue Herons can hunt day and night thanks to a high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors in their eyes.
They have specialized neck vertebrae that allow them to strike prey at high speeds.
Despite their large size, their hollow bones make them surprisingly light, weighing only 5-6 pounds.

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