The great blue heron standing on a bank.

Great Blue Heron

Here are some Great Blue Heron facts. The Great Blue Heron’s Latin name is Ardea herodias. They live in most of North America and Central America, as well as the Caribbean and the Galápagos Islands. The preferred Great Blue Heron habitat is fresh or saltwater marshes, mangrove swamps, flooded meadows, lake edges, or shorelines. The Great Blue Heron’s breeding season is from February through May. They winter in southern parts. Their population status is of least concern. You are most likely to see Great Blue Heron flying around Coal Creek Farm from spring to fall.

What do Great Blue Herons eat? Their diet consists of mainly fish, as well as shrimp, crabs, aquatic insects, rodents, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and ducklings.

They are a very popular bird to photograph – just search for Great Blue Heron images or Great Blue Heron pictures online and you’ll see thousands of beautiful photos. While a baby Great Blue Heron can fit in the palm of your hand, a full grown heron can reach 3 – 4.5 feet tall with a wingspan of 5.5 – 6.6 feet.

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