Great Blue Heron (Birds of the Alameda Shoreline )

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Summary ⁵

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America and Central America as well as the Caribbean and the Galápagos Islands.

Description ⁶

Ardea herodias is a tall, long-necked wading bird of the Order Ciconiiformes (herons and storks), and is the largest of the North American herons. The sexes are similar in this species, with overall body color a dull blue-gray. It has a thick yellow bill, black shoulders, and legs that generally match the body color. A major identifying trait is the white face that has a black streak extending from behind the eye to the back of the head.

Habitat ⁷

Great blue herons always live near sources of water, including rivers, lake edges, marshes, saltwater seacoasts, and swamps. They require tall trees near water to nest in, and often nest in groups or "rookeries" which require a stand of suitable trees. They have been found breeding at elevations of up to 1,500 m. Most tend to avoid marine habitats along the east coast and instead live inland.

Range elevation: 1500 (high) m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; freshwater

Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; coastal

Wetlands: marsh ; swamp

Other Habitat Features: riparian

Food habits ⁸

Great blue herons fish primarily during the day or occasionally at night, but most of their activity occurs around dawn and dusk. Herons use their long legs to wade in shallow water and their sharp spear-like bills to catch their food. Great blue herons' diet consists of mainly fish, but also includes frogs, salamanders, lizards, snakes, young birds, small mammals, shrimp, crabs, crayfish, dragonflies, grasshoppers and many aquatic invertebrates. Herons locate their food by sight and usually swallow it whole. Herons have been known to choke on prey that is too large. Great blue herons obtain water by scooping up water with their bills and tipping their heads back to drink. Great blue herons live in aquatic habitats and are surrounded by water for nearly their entire lives.

Animal Foods: birds; mammals; amphibians; reptiles; fish; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; aquatic crustaceans

Lifespan/longevity ⁹

The oldest wild great blue heron was said to be 23 years old, but most do not live so long. The average lifespan for a great blue heron is around 15 years. As with most animals, they are most vulnerable when they are young. More than half of the great blue herons born in one year will die before they are a year old.

Range lifespan
Status: wild: 24.5 (high) years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 15 years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 294 months.

Sources and Credits

(c) Mike Baird, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/72825507@N00/3020707979
(c) Tracie, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4395956985_072751dc0c.jpg
(c) tracie7779, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4396774992_e71785c458.jpg
(c) Blake Matheson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3407/3206828119_63b06a30bb_o.jpg
Adapted by Marisa Rafter from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardea_herodias
Adapted by Marisa Rafter from a work by (c) Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/11527085
(c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/25063442
Adapted by Marisa Rafter from a work by (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/25063447
(c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/25063445