Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
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<birdfyi-bird slug="great-blue-heron"></birdfyi-bird>Blue-grey with a white, black-striped head and a long, dagger-like bill, the Great Blue Heron is a patient ambush hunter that stands motionless in shallow water before striking with lightning speed. Fish form the bulk of its prey, along with frogs, snakes, small mammals, insects, and other birds. In flight the neck folds into an S, and rufous thighs complete the unmistakable profile. It frequents marshes, swamps, riverbanks, lake edges, and coastal shores, and also hunts in fields and meadows, from Alaska and southern Canada to the Caribbean and the Galapagos. Platform nests hold two to seven eggs, incubated for 25 to 29 days, with young fledging near 60 days. For so large a wader it is mostly silent, giving a deep, harsh croak in flight. It is assessed as Least Concern.
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Sobre
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.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Body Length | 117,0 cm | 46.1 in |
| Envergadura | 183,0 cm | 72.0 in |
| Peso | 2400,0 g | 84.66 oz |
Identificação
Plumagem
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.
Bico
Long, dagger-like yellowish bill
Habitat & Range
Wetlands of all types including marshes, swamps, riverbanks, lake edges, and coastal shores. Also hunts in fields and meadows.
Distribuição geográfica
North and Central America from Alaska and southern Canada to the Caribbean and Galapagos Islands.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily fish, also frogs, snakes, small mammals, insects, and other birds. Hunts by standing motionless in shallow water and striking with lightning speed.
Estado de conservação
Comportamento e reprodução
Nidificação
Nest type: PL. Incubation: 25-29 days. Fledging: 60 days.
Tamanho da postura
2-7
Som
Canto
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.
Taxonomia
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Ordem | Pelecaniformes (Pelicans & Herons) |
| Família | Ardeidae (Herons & Egrets) |
| Genus | Ardea |
| Espécies | Ardea herodias |
Names in Other Languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| German | Kanadareiher |
| Spanish | Garza Azulada |
Distribution
Great Blue Heron has been recorded in 9 countries.
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External Databases
Perguntas frequentes
What does the Great Blue Heron eat?
Where does the Great Blue Heron live?
Is the Great Blue Heron endangered?
How does the Great Blue Heron nest?
What does the Great Blue Heron sound like?
How big is the Great Blue Heron?
What order and family does the Great Blue Heron belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Ardeidae family