Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Aves |
Order | Pelecaniformes |
Family | Ardeidae |
Genus | Ardea |
Species | A. herodias |
Scientific Name | Ardea herodias |
Other Names
Great White heron
Great Blue Heron Description
- Great blue heron is the largest heron in North America.
- Herons usually rely on sight to search prey and it swallows the entire animal.
- The oldest heron lived up to 24 years and 6 months.
- Herons may move slowly, but they will strike like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a gopher.
- Herons stand like a statue when they must stalk a fish.
Size & Weight
Adults:
- HEAD-TO-TAIL LENGTH: 91–137 cm (36–54 in)
- WEIGHT: (Male) 48 kg (5.5 lb) (Female) 2.11 kg (4.7 lb)
- WINGSPAN: 167–201 cm (66–79 in)
- HEIGHT: 115–138 cm (45–54 in)
- WING CHORD: 43–49.2 cm (16.9–19.4 in)
- TAIL: 2–19.5 cm (6.0–7.7 in)
- TARSUS: 7–21 cm (6.2–8.3 in)
Subspecies
- h. herodias
- h. fannini
- h. wardi
- h. occidentalis
- h. cognata
Habitat
Freshwater swamps, saltwater marshes, mangrove swamps, lake edges, flooded meadows, shorelines, ditches
Range
Northern Alaska, southern Canada, Rocky Mountains, South America, southern United States, Florida, Caribbean, Mexico
Diet
Shrimps, rodents, aquatic insects, flounders, reptiles, amphibians, gunnels, birds, crabs, perch, sculpins, sticklebacks, voles, bass
Reproduction
3 – 6 eggs
Nest Size
- LENGTH: 50 cm (20 in)
- WIDTH: 120 cm (47 in)
- DEPTH: 90 cm (35 in)
Eggs Size
- LENGTH: 7 to 76.5 mm (2.00 to 3.01 in)
- WIDTH: 29 to 50.5 mm (1.14 to 1.99 in)
- WEIGHT: 61 to 80 g (2.2 to 2.8 oz)
Eggs Description
Pale blue color
Incubation Period
27 days
Breeding Period
March to April
Fledging Period
60 days
Predators
Common ravens, red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, Harris’s hawks, bald eagles, raccoons, American crocodile, American alligators, golden eagle, turkey vultures, American crows
Behavior
Solitary
Conservation Status
Least Concern