Great blue herons … Great blue herons can hunt day and night thanks to a high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors in their eyes that improve their night vision. The great blue heron hunts for food on land as well as in water. There are 64 different species of herons that differ in size, color and type of habitat. Their wing span can range from 66 to 79 inches wide. Whether poised at a river bend or cruising the coastline with slow, deep wingbeats, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight. Ardea herodias . This stately heron with its subtle blue-gray plumage often stands motionless as it scans for prey or wades belly deep with long, deliberate steps. It is a large bird, with a slate-gray body, chestnut and black accents, and very long legs and neck. The great blue heron is the largest bird of the heron family Ardeidae in North America. 29 Interesting And Bizarre Facts About Hedgehogs. The length of great blue heron measures around 97 – 137 cm (38 – 54 in). They may move slowly, but Great Blue Herons can strike like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a gopher. Herons can be found on each continent except on Antarctica. All members of the family Ardeidae have specialised feathers called powder down. It has a long, yellow-orange beak and displays brighter feathers during mating season. newer . This bird has greyish blue feathers on its body, a white head with a black stripe on each side, a long neck and long legs. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Species Code: ARHE. Widespread and familiar (though often called "crane"), the largest heron in North America. They can range in length from 38 to 54 inches. These feathers never moult but fray from the tip and grow continuously from the base. The great blue heron is the largest heron in North America and stands about one metre tall. Great Blue Heron Facts. What they look like: The Great Blue Heron is the largest and most widespread heron in North America. Its diet also includes rodents, lizards, and even snakes. The oldest recorded great blue heron was found in Texas. These birds arguably considered to be the largest North American heron after Goliath Heron. 1. Its wingspan reaches 2 m. It looks like a grey heron but is larger than it is. These birds have a wingspan of 167 – 201 cm (66 – 79 in). Great Blue Herons are very tall and stand 3 … It is a member of the Ardeidae family as are all other herons. While pigeons have […] The heron stands at the water’s edge or walks slowly and quietly, ready to snatch any fish that swims past. The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a very interesting bird. More interesting facts about great blue herons. The Great Blue Heron is a very large bird, the largest of all Heron in North America. Often seen standing silently along inland rivers or lakeshores, or flying high overhead, with slow wingbeats, its head hunched back onto its shoulders. These herons weigh around 2.1 – 2.5 kg (4.6 – 5.5 lbs). There is a pure white species of the great blue heron that lives in southern coastal Florida. The new born great blue herons are fed by both the parents. Great Blue Heron. The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. They become independent at the age of 6 – 7 weeks. It was at least 24 years, 6 months old. Interesting facts about great blue heron July 31, 2020 August 18, 2020 Admin 1 Comment. Spread the love ; animals birds herons. They can jump to nearby branches by the age of 2 – 3 weeks and can make short flights at 4 weeks. previous. Almost all species are associated with water, they are essentially non-swimming waterbirds that feed on the margins of lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds and the sea. Like all herons, it mainly eats fish. They can reach up to a height of 115 – 138 cm (45 – 54 in). Great Blue Heron Facts and Information Ardea herodias Introduction to Great Blue Heron. 28. The great blue heron may toss its prey in the air before gulping it down. Great blue herons are the largest of the North American herons. 0 0 .