Madagascar Heron vs Great Blue Heron

Ardea humbloti comparé à Ardea herodias

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Madagascar Heron Great Blue Heron
Nom scientifique Ardea humbloti Ardea herodias
Ordre Pelecaniformes Pelecaniformes
Famille Ardeidae Ardeidae
Statut de conservation Endangered Least Concern
Longueur 117,0 cm (46.1 in)
Envergure 89,8 cm (35.4 in) 183,0 cm (72.0 in)
Poids 1060,0 g (37.39 oz) 2400,0 g (84.66 oz)
Régime alimentaire -- Primarily fish, also frogs, snakes, small mammals, insects, and other birds. Hunts by standing motionless …
Taille de la couvée 3 2-7
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Madagascar Heron
Great Blue Heron 117,0 cm
Envergure
Madagascar Heron 89,8 cm
Great Blue Heron 183,0 cm
Poids
Madagascar Heron 1060,0 g
Great Blue Heron 2400,0 g

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Madagascar Heron only

Great Blue Heron only

Great Blue Heron

Wetlands of all types including marshes, swamps, riverbanks, lake edges, and coastal shores. Also hunts in fields and meadows.

Song & Call Comparison

Madagascar Heron

Great Blue Heron

Chant

Deep, harsh, croaking 'frahnk-frahnk' call in flight. Also gives low guttural grunts at the nest. Alarmed birds give repeated croaks. Mostly silent for such a large wader.

Geographic Range & Migration

Madagascar Heron

Great Blue Heron

North and Central America from Alaska and southern Canada to the Caribbean and Galapagos Islands.

Statut de conservation

Endangered

Madagascar Heron

Least Concern

Great Blue Heron

How to Tell Them Apart

Madagascar Heron

Great Blue Heron

Plumage

Blue-grey body with a white head bearing a broad black stripe extending to a long black plume. Rufous-brown thighs. In flight, the neck is folded into an S-shape.

Bec

Long, dagger-like yellowish bill

About These Birds

Great Blue Heron

The great blue heron is the largest heron in North America, standing up to 1.4 meters tall. These patient hunters can stand motionless for extended periods before striking at prey with remarkable speed. They nest in large colonies called heronries, often returning to the same site year after year.

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