Great Blue Heron

Overall bluish-gray plumage with a slate-blue back, chestnut-brown thighs, and a white face with a black stripe extending from the eye to the back of the head. Adults feature long, delicate plumes on the lower neck and back during breeding season. Juveniles are duller and lack the distinct head plumes.

Large overall size, bluish-gray body, black plumes on the head, yellowish bill, and the characteristic S-curved neck in flight.

Length: 91–137 cm (36–54 in), Wingspan: 167–201 cm (66–79 in), Weight: 2.1–3.6 kg (4.6–7.9 lbs)

A harsh, deep, throaty croak or squawk, often described as a loud 'fraoh' given when startled or in flight.

Primarily fish, but also eats frogs, salamanders, snakes, rodents, insects, and small birds, hunting by patiently waiting or slowly stalking prey before striking with its sharp bill.

Freshwater and saltwater wetlands, marshes, mangrove swamps, riverbanks, and lake edges.

Partial migrant. Populations in northern and inland areas typically migrate south for winter, while coastal and southern populations are year-round residents.

Builds bulky stick nests high up in trees in colonies called heronries. Females lay 3 to 5 pale blue-green eggs, and both parents share incubation and feeding duties.

Sandhill Crane and Great Egret. Cranes fly with their necks outstretched rather than folded, and Egrets are entirely white.

Acts as an apex predator in aquatic food webs, helping to control fish, amphibian, and small mammal populations while indicating the health of wetland ecosystems.

Least Concern, with stable to increasing populations across most of its range.

Look near the edges of lakes, rivers, marshes, and coastal marine areas during early morning or late afternoon. Approach slowly and use binoculars to avoid flushing them.

Great Blue Herons can swallow surprisingly large fish whole, occasionally choking if the prey is too big. They fly at speeds of up to 30 to 35 miles per hour.