Great blue herons, ardea herodias, are the largest herons in North America. They measure about 3.2 to 4.5 feet (1 to 1.4 meters) in length and weigh 4.6 to 7.3 pounds (2.1 to 2.5 kilograms) with males often being slightly larger than females. They also have an impressive wingspan, reaching around 5.5 to 6.6 feet (1.7 to 2 meters) from wing tip to wing tip. Great blue herons have long, white, black and rusty-brown necks as well as long green legs. Males differ from females because they have puffy plumes of feathers behind their heads. Great blue herons are pretty swift while in the air, reaching speeds of up around 20 to 30 miles (32 to 48 kilometers) per hour. Great blue herons and Great white herons (the all-white morph found in the Caribbean and Florida) are in fact the same species.
Great blue herons can be found in North, Central, and South America as well as Canada and the Galapagos depending on the season. They prefer to inhabit areas that contain a body of water such as a river or lake. Great blue herons nest in tall trees most of the time, at altitudes up to 4,921 feet (1,500 meters), but have been known to make due in low shrubs. They will sleep in larger groups called colonies which can contain more than 100 individuals, although they will do their hunting alone. Great blue herons will also fiercely defend their nests from any intruders, including those in their colonies.
The diet of great blue herons consists mostly of fish, although mice also make up a decent percentage of their diets. They have also been known to eat reptiles, birds, invertebrates, pretty much anything that they can overpower. When hunting, they will walk slowly, and when the time is right, they will lunge their bills and stab their prey. Great white herons will then proceed to swallow their victim whole, but they must be careful as some have been known to choke to death on things too big for them to swallow. Common predators of great blue herons include bears, eagles, turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks and raccoons. They have been known to leave a colony where an adult or chick has been killed by a predator.
Breeding season for great blue herons takes place from March to May within their northern range, and from November to April in the southern part of it. Females lay anywhere from 2 to 7 eggs (average of 4) which both parents will incubate and protect. After 26 to 30 days of taking turns incubating, the chicks will hatch from their eggs. Baby chicks are able to fly and live on their own as soon as 2 months after they hatch. If the young ones can survive long enough, then they can live to be 15 years old on average. There was one that was said to be 23 years old, but this is a rare occurrence.
Great blue herons are not an endangered species, nor are they even threatened. They are protected however, as they do face some threats such as loss of habitat as well as death by running into utility wires. Hopefully, great blue herons will continue to thrive and avoid facing the threat of extinction. After all, such a unique species of bird deserves to live and prosper far into the future.
