Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Least Concern
The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in North America, standing nearly 4 feet tall! These patient hunters wade through shallow water on stilt-like legs, waiting motionless until a fish swims by.
When they strike, their neck uncoils like a spring and their dagger-like beak spears the prey in a fraction of a second. Despite their size, they only weigh about 5-6 pounds thanks to hollow bones!
Size
About as tall as a 4-year-old child
Very Large (>60 cm)
Wingspan: 180 cm
Weight: 2500 g
Colors
blue
gray
white
black
Habitat
wetlandcoastal
Diet
fishsmall mammalsinsects
Fun Facts
- ✨Their neck has a special S-shaped kink to strike prey lightning-fast!
- ✨Great Blue Herons can hunt at night thanks to excellent vision.
- ✨They have special powder-down feathers that help waterproof them.
- ✨A group of herons is called a 'siege' of herons!
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great news! This bird is doing well. There are lots of them in the wild, and they have safe places to live and find food.
Population trend: increasing 📈