North America's largest heron at 4 feet tall with a 6-foot wingspan, instantly recognizable as it stalks shallow water with patient, deliberate motion before spearing fish, frogs, and small mammals.

Also called: Great Blue, Cranky (folk), Big Cranky

Native status: Native; widespread

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 91–137 cm (36–54 in); wingspan 1.7–2.0 m (5.5–6.5 ft)
Weight1.8–3.6 kg (4–8 lb)
LifespanWild typically 15 years; oldest documented 24
OrderPelecaniformes
FamilyArdeidae

§ Encyclopedia

The great blue heron is a large wading bird in the heron family (Ardeidae), common near shores of open water and wetlands over most of North and Central America, as well as Northwestern South America, the Caribbean, and the Galápagos Islands. It is occasionally found in the Azores and is a rare vagrant to Europe. An all-white population found in South Florida and the Florida Keys is known as the great white heron. Debate exists about whether these white birds are a color morph of the great blue heron, a subspecies of it, or an entirely separate species.

Source: Wikipedia — Great blue heron Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Massive gray-blue heron with white head and black stripe extending behind eye to form a long plume; long yellow dagger-like bill; long legs trailing in flight (neck folded back in S-shape, distinguishing herons from cranes which fly with neck extended).

Similar species. Sandhill Crane (similar size; flies with neck extended). Great Egret (all white). Tricolored Heron (smaller, white belly).

Voice. Hoarse croaking "frahnk!" — usually heard when flushed or at colony sites.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Fish (~70% of diet), frogs, salamanders, snakes, small mammals, crustaceans, large insects. Will eat anything swallowable — documented prey includes muskrats, gophers, ducklings, and small snakes.

Behavior. Largest heron in North America. Hunts by motionless stalking — sometimes standing fully still for 20+ minutes — then strikes with explosive neck extension. Often nests colonially in tall trees over water ("heronries") with dozens to hundreds of pairs. Specialized neck vertebrae allow lightning-fast strikes. The white morph in Florida ("Great White Heron") was formerly considered a separate species.

§ Range

Throughout most of North America wherever wetlands exist

§ Habitat

Marshes, riverbanks, lake edges, coastal estuaries, and even backyard ponds

§ Threats

Wetland drainage, lead poisoning from fishing tackle, habitat fragmentation along migration routes.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the great blue heron is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support wetland protection. Use lead-free fishing gear. Keep distance from rookeries during nesting (March–July).

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • National Audubon Society
  • National Wildlife Federation
  • IUCN Red List 2018