Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

The largest and most widespread heron, familiar to many.  Vary adaptable, the Great Blue Heron can be found  living in a wide variety of environments, from mangrove swamps in Florida to the coastline of Alaska.  They are similarly very adaptable in diet, and eating a wide variety of items. They usually breed in nesting colonies with nesting platforms of sticks. 

Habitat: Marshes, sloughs, ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes.  

Diet: Variable, includes fish, frogs, salamanders, rodents, snakes, birds, and large insects.  Birds in certain locations may specialize in a specific prey item.

Behavior: Primarily forages by standing still in the water or walking slowly, and then striking quickly with it's bill when prey items are spotted.  They will hunt day or night.

Nesting: April and May

Breeding Map: Breeding bird survey map

Song: Great Blue Heron Song

Migration: Birds in the northern half of the U.S. are generally migratory.  Winters in southern U.S. or near coasts, also down through Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.

Similar Species: Superficially similar to Sandhill Crane, Great Egret, or other large cranes and egrets, but generally distinctive.

Conservation Status: Generally stable throughout its range.

Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Great Blue Heron

2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Great Blue Heron"

3) eNature.com: Great Blue Heron

Photo Information: May 2nd, 2003 -- Western Minnehaha County -- Terry L. Sohl

Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Great Blue Heron photos.