Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Conservation Status
Least ConcernAves · Pelecaniformes · Ardeidae
About
The great blue heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America, as well as far 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.
Fun Fact
Great blue herons have specialized feathers on their chest that continuously grow, fray, and crumble into a powder the bird uses to clean fish slime off its other feathers — a built-in dry shampoo.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Wetlands and shorelines
Diet
Piscivore
Lifespan
15-20 years
Threats
- Invasive Aquatic Species
- Wetland Drainage