Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Family Ardeidae
Quick answer
A tall, slate-grey wading bird found on almost any water in North America — lakes, marshes, tidal flats, drainage ditches and garden ponds alike.
Quick facts
- Size
- Very large; roughly 1.1–1.3 m tall, wingspan around 1.8 m
- Habitat
- Marshes, lake and river margins, estuaries, flooded fields, ponds
- Range
- Across North America; northern birds move south when water freezes
- Diet
- Fish, amphibians, small mammals, reptiles, large insects
- When to look
- Year-round where water stays open
- Family
- Ardeidae
Identification
- Slate-grey body, long S-curved neck, heavy dagger bill
- Black plume stripe above the eye extending behind the head
- Flies with neck folded back and legs trailing — the key separation from cranes
- Slow, deep wingbeats
Behaviour
Hunts by standing still for long periods, then striking. Nests colonially in tall trees, and holds feeding territories along shorelines.
Similar species
- Sandhill Crane
- Flies with neck fully extended; grey with a red crown.
- Great Egret
- All white with a yellow bill and black legs.
- Little Blue Heron
- Much smaller, darker, with a two-toned bill.
Birding tips
- Sit down at distance and wait — herons relax and hunt naturally once you stop approaching
- Early and late light is far kinder to grey plumage than midday sun
Frequently asked questions
Is a Great Blue Heron a crane?
No. In flight the folded neck is diagnostic; cranes fly with the neck straight out.
Will one take fish from my pond?
Yes, regularly. Netting or a sheltered deep area is the usual solution.
Have you seen this bird?
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