Great blue heron

Ardea herodias · The great blue heron is a large wading bird common near open water and wetlands across most of North and Central America, the Caribbean, and the Galápagos Islands.

Also called Great white heron.

Great blue heron
Photo: PhotoBobil, CC BY 2.0
Great blue heron
Photo: Paul Danese, CC BY-SA 4.0
Great blue heron
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPelecaniformes
FamilyArdeidae
GenusArdea
SpeciesArdea herodias

Where it lives

Wetlands and shores of Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Fun facts

  • Great blue herons have a wingspan of up to 201 cm (79 in), which is wider than most adult humans are tall.
  • Herons and cranes are easiest to tell apart in flight: cranes hold their necks straight, but herons bend theirs into an S shape.
  • A great blue heron can tackle sizeable snakes, including water snakes 105 cm (41 in) long.
  • Great blue herons are flexible fishers: they sometimes hover over the water, dive headfirst, or even swim and float on the surface to catch prey.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).