The Great Blue Heron is a majestic bird that belongs to the Ardeidae family. It is one of the largest wading birds found in North and Central America, standing up to 4 feet tall with an impressive wingspan of over 6 feet. In this blog post, we will explore more about this beautiful bird.
## Basic Description
Great Blue Herons have blue-grey feathers on their head and necks, while the rest of their bodies are light greyish-blue. They have long legs that are adapted for wading in shallow water or walking on land. The most distinctive feature of these birds is their long beak which is yellowish-grey and sharp enough to catch fish with ease.
## Where To Find This Bird
Great Blue Herons can be found throughout North and Central America, from Canada down to Mexico. They prefer areas near rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes or any other wetlands where they can easily find food resources.
## Habitat
These elegant birds generally inhabit freshwater environments such as rivers and lakes; however, they may also live around saltwater habitats like estuaries or tidal flats. They usually build nests atop trees close to water systems where they feed on fish as well as various amphibians and reptiles.
## Food
As mentioned earlier, Great Blue Herons feed primarily on aquatic animals such as fish (including trout), frogs, salamanders or crayfish which makes up almost 90% of their diet during breeding season (April-August). However outside breeding season they are known hunt rodents like voles if food sources scarce.
## Cool Facts
– Great blue herons fly at average speeds of 20-30 miles per hour
– When threatened by predators such as eagles or hawks great blue heron will emit a loud squawk sound.
– During mating rituals males often bring sticks back females which line the edges of nests making them larger.
– Great Blue Herons have been recorded to live up to 15 years in the wild.
In conclusion, Great Blue Heron is one of the most fascinating birds you can find in North and Central America. With its striking appearance, unmatched hunting skills and preference for wetland habitats it truly stands out as an iconic species.
