| Photo Information |
Copyright: Jean Yves Bissonnette (JYB)
![Silver Note Writer [C: 2 W: 0 N: 75]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/n-n-s.gif) (848) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2008-06-29 |
| Categories: Birds |
| Camera: Canon 30D, Canon 100-400L 4.5-5.6 IS USM |
| Exposure: f/8, 1/640 seconds |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2008-07-03 22:19 |
| Viewed: 455 |
| Points: 6 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
I realy like take pictures of this bird, because he can take a lot of differents expressions and poses. I appreciate all your comments and critiques. Have a nice day to all. JYB
Infos on this bird
The largest and most widespread heron in North America, the Great Blue Heron can be found along the ocean shore or the edge of a small inland pond. An all white form is found from southern Florida into the Caribbean, and used to be considered a separate species, the "Great White Heron."
Cool Facts
The white form of the Great Blue Heron, known as the "great white heron," is found nearly exclusively in shallow marine waters along the coast of very southern Florida, the Yucatan Peninsula, and in the Caribbean. Where the dark and white forms overlap in Florida, intermediate birds known as "Wurdemann's herons" can be found. They have the bodies of a Great Blue Heron, but the white head and neck of the great white heron.
Although the Great Blue Heron eats primarily fish, it is adaptable and willing to eat other animals as well. Several studies have found that voles (mice) were a very important part of the diet, making up nearly half of what was fed to nestlings in Idaho. Occasionally a heron will choke to death trying to eat a fish that is too large to swallow.
Great Blue Herons congregate at fish hatcheries, creating potential problems for the fish farmers. A study found that herons ate mostly diseased fish that would have died shortly anyway. Sick fish spent more time near the surface of the water where they were more vulnerable to the herons.
Description
Size: 97-137 cm (38-54 in)
Wingspan: 167-201 cm (66-79 in)
Weight: 2100-2500 g (74.13-88.25 ounces)
Large, gray bird.
Long legs
Long, "S"-shaped neck.
Long, thick bill.
White crown stripe.
Black plume extending from behind eye to off the back of the neck.
Shaggy feathers on neck and back.
Bluish gray back, wings, and belly.
Reddish or gray neck.
White morph all white with pale legs, yellow bill.
Front of neck streaked with white, black, and rusty brown.
Bill yellowish.
Legs brownish or greenish.
Eyes yellow.
Thighs rust colored.
Black patch at bend of wing.
Flight feathers blackish on top, contrasting with center of wings.
Cinnamon patch at leading edge of underside of wing.
Sex Differences
Sexes look alike.
Immature
Juvenile similar to adult, but has gray crown, a dark upper bill, rusty brown edging to back feathers, and lacks body plumes.
Similar Species
Sandhill Crane is larger, has a prominent tuft of bushy feathers on its rump, a shorter bill, and a red cap, and is found in fields rather than ponds.
Little Blue Heron is much smaller and more slender, lacks plumes on the head, is entirely uniform dark blue-gray, has a dark bill with a bluish base, and greenish legs.
Tricolored Heron is more slender, has white head plumes, and a white belly contrasting sharply with the dark chest.
Great Egret differs from white morph by being more slender, lacking head plumes, and having black legs.
Sound
Call a deep, hoarse croak.
Range
Breeds from southern Alaska and central Canada southward to Central America and the Caribbean.
Winter Range
Winters from southern Canada southward to northern South America, and along the coasts as far north as Alaska and Nova Scotia.
Habitat
Found along calm freshwater and seacoasts. Usually nests in trees near water, but colonies can be found away from water. Great White Heron found almost exclusively in shallow marine habitats.
Food
Fish, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals.
Behavior
Foraging
Walks slowly, stands and stabs prey with quick lunge of the bill.
Reproduction
Nest Type
Nests in colonies, sometimes as lone pair. Nest a large platform of sticks, lined with pine needles, moss, reeds, dry grass, or twigs. Placed high in trees, occasionally on ground.
Egg Description
Dull pale blue.
Clutch Size
2-6 eggs.
Condition at Hatching
Covered in pale gray down; eyes are open and can hold head up just after hatching.
Conservation Status
The Great Blue Heron suffered less from plume hunters and pesticides than other herons, and its numbers have remained strong.
Other Names
Grande Héron (French)
Garza morena, Garza blanca granda, Gallinaza (Spanish) |
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