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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 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.
Across the river on the north bank is the rookery. Annually, these great birds return to nest. The great blue heron is the largest of the North American heron families. They stand 4 feet (1.2 m) tall and have a wingspan of 7 feet (2.1 m). It is best to visit with a ranger on a guide walk as the birds can be hard to find, high in their nests. [3]
The feathers of the herons are soft and the plumage is usually blue, black, brown, grey, or white, and can often be strikingly complex. Amongst the day herons, little sexual dimorphism in plumage is seen (except in the pond-herons); however, for the night herons and smaller bitterns, plumage differences between the sexes are the rule.
If you spot a great blue heron, here are some helpful tips for expert bird watching, and a few things you definitely should not do.
Great blue heron Green heron. Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae. The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and more secretive.
The great blue heron is the largest heron native to North America. Its range is very wide, spreading from norther Canada to South America depending on the time of year, and encompassing almost all ...
Great blue heron. Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae. The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and more secretive.
A beaver pond along Ellerbe Creek is home to a thriving population of great blue herons and egrets. One day a road could cut through it. State proposes preserving Durham heron nesting grounds.