Ardea herodias

Description

The great blue heron is tall and gray with a long, extendable neck. It has black plumes on its head and orange thighs. This bird also has a long, thin yellow bill and black streaks down its neck.

Voice

The great blue heron's call is a deep croaking "frahnk."

Breeding

March to August

Habitat

These birds build their nests among dead trees. They stay around marshes, ponds, or wet fields.

Diet

Great Blue Herons eat fish, small mammals, and amphibians (like frogs). They walk very slowly looking for food and when they find prey they stab down at it quickly.

Range

You can find these herons year-round in most of the United States. They summer in Canada and the northern United States (including VT and NH) and winter in Mexico.

Other Useful Information

In flight, the great blue heron curls its neck in close to its body. These are usually solitary birds, but they might form flocks when migrating.