A great blue heron wades across still water.
The great blue heron is a large bird that can be found in many places throughout the world, but most prominently in North America. These magnificent birds were originally described by Carl Linnaeus in the 1700s and consists of several subspecies. The bird is very well-known and has been well-documented by scientists since its discovery.
Appearance
The dull gray and gunmetal blue feathers give the bird its name.
The great blue heron is a tall, slender bird with a long neck and significantly bulkier lower body. The back of the neck is grayish-red, almost rust-colored, while the front is black and white. Its head is pale with a white face and and two black stripes running from its eyes to the back of its head and an orange bill. Most of its body feathers are a mix of dull gray and gunmetal blue, giving it its name. There are usually streaks of black and white lining its underbelly.
Size
The great blue heron is a relatively large bird, and is in fact the largest heron in North America. From head to tail, the heron ranges from around 35 to 55 inches, with a wingspan measuring between 66 and 79 inches. On average, the birds top out around 4.5 lbs. A subspecies, the great white heron, which is native to Florida, is about a quarter smaller.
Habitat
Great blue herons inhabit wetlands and still, shallow waters. They live in marshes, swamps, flooded meadows and along almost any shoreline in both freshwater and saltwater environments. The herons can be found almost universally throughout North America, including Alaska and most of Canada, extending down to northern and central Mexico. There are vagrant populations reported in Hawaii, Greenland and England.
Diet
Blue herons are not picky eaters. Though their diet consist mainly of small fish, they've also been known to eat turtles, lizards, frogs, small mammals, crabs and other birds. They do not chew their food and instead swallow it whole. The heron hunts by wading through the water and spearing any passing fish or small prey item, then tossing it into its mouth and gulping it down. Because of this behavior, herons have been known to choke on prey items too big for them to swallow.
Reproduction
Herons are colony breeders, meaning that dozens or even hundreds of individuals will find a place to set up a rookery (referred to as a heronry with herons) consisting of between five and 500 individual nests. The females will lay around four to six eggs, which are then incubated for around a month before hatching. The babies are fed by both the male and female parents; they regurgitate partially digested food directly into their babies' mouths.
Related posts
Great blue heronThe great blue heron is the largest heron found in North America, with some standing almost 5 feet tall. It can be found wherever there is water to provide a place to hunt for food...
Many types of bluebirds enjoy the mild climate in Tennessee.Birdwatchers in Tennessee observe several species of blue birds. Some of the birds make the state their permanent home, while others sho...
The mockingbird is the state bird of Texas.Many birds can be seen in Texas. The variety of terrains in Texas make it an excellent state to birdwatch in. Most of the birds found in Texas are migrat...
Blue jays are common birds that can be found throughout the United States, particularly in eastern areas, and in southern parts of Canada. The blue jay is a songbird that is capable of producing a...
California quail eggs are a cream color with brown speckles.The California valley quail goes by several different names, including the California partridge, Catalina quail and Topknot quail. This...
