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Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
Great Blue Heron, photographed by @coldbeer

Photo: @coldbeer · Pexels · Pexels License (licence)

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About the Great Blue Heron

Huge gray heron, no other similar species in range. Note large yellow-orange bill, short black plumes on head, and black and chestnut pattern on shoulder. Immatures are more brownish than adults, and have a dark crown. Fairly common and widespread throughout North America; wintering range extends to northern South America. Occurs in almost any wetland habitat, from small ponds to marshes to saltwater bays. Usually seen singly but can gather in numbers where food is plentiful. White form, sometimes considered a separate species (“Great White Heron”), is found in southern Florida and the Caribbean. It is most similar to Great Egret but has a larger bill.

Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made

Where it has been recorded

Recorded in 48 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.

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