Great Blue Heron vs White-eared Night Heron

Ardea herodias comparé à Oroanassa magnifica

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Great Blue Heron White-eared Night Heron
Nom scientifique Ardea herodias Oroanassa magnifica
Ordre Pelecaniformes Pelecaniformes
Famille Ardeidae Ardeidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Endangered
Longueur 117,0 cm (46.1 in)
Envergure 183,0 cm (72.0 in) 61,3 cm (24.1 in)
Poids 2400,0 g (84.66 oz) 480,3 g (16.94 oz)
Régime alimentaire Primarily fish, also frogs, snakes, small mammals, insects, and other birds. Hunts by standing motionless … --
Taille de la couvée 2-7 3-5
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Great Blue Heron 117,0 cm
White-eared Night Heron
Envergure
Great Blue Heron 183,0 cm
White-eared Night Heron 61,3 cm
Poids
Great Blue Heron 2400,0 g
White-eared Night Heron 480,3 g

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Great Blue Heron only

White-eared Night 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

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.

White-eared Night Heron

Geographic Range & Migration

Great Blue Heron

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

White-eared Night Heron

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Great Blue Heron

Endangered

White-eared Night Heron

How to Tell Them Apart

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

White-eared Night Heron

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.

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family