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D & D Wildlife Photography
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The Great Blue Heron has a long pointed bill that seems to extend right into their eyes. Most have narrow heads, long slender necks and stick like legs that are similar to the legs of cranes and storks. Some have long crests and plumes on their throats and bodies. They have greyish blue bodies, white heads with a black stripe over the eye. The immature Great Blue Heron is similar to the adult except that the head has a solid black cap which gradually changes to white. Their habitat is generally Northeast America, although some are found along the California coast as far down as Baja California and Mexico. In flight, Herons stretch their long legs straight out behind then and curl their heads between their shoulders. They stand in the water not moving until their prey come and they spear them with their beak. Their prey is fish, frogs, crayfish and other small animals, plus aquatic animals.They feed in shallow water and nest in small colonies in isolated areas or singly. Their nests are large platform nests of sticks lined with finer twigs and smaller vegetation, placed in trees or shrubs thirty to seventy feet above ground. They lay three to seven pale bluish green eggs.
Length: 50 inches
Wingspan: 72 inches
Habitat: Marshes, swamps, river and lake edges, tidal flats, mangroves, other water areas.
Voice: Harsh, gutteral "frahnk" or short "rok rok" call given during aggression. Both sexes do bill clacking.
Other Behavior: Males display from nest sites with neck arched over back, bill pointing up.
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