Herons (Ardeidae)
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) - HBW 1, p. 405
French: Grand Héron
German: Kanadareiher
Spanish: Garza Azulada
Other common names: Great White Heron (white morph); Würdemann's Heron
Taxonomy: Ardea herodias Linnaeus, 1758, America = Hudson Bay.
Sometimes considered conspecific with A. cinerea; forms superspecies with A. cinerea and A. cocoi. Race occidentalis, mostly white morph birds, previously considered distinct species. Possible hybrid occidentalis x wardi with white head, described as different species, Würdemann's Heron (A. wurdemanni); recent opinion suggests it is merely colour morph of wardi or occidentalis. Five subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- fannini Chapman, 1901 - SE Alaska to coastal Washington.
- herodias Linnaeus, 1758 - most of N & C America.
- wardi Ridgway, 1882 - Kansas and Oklahoma to Florida.
- fannini Chapman, 1901 - SE Alaska to coastal Washington.
- herodias Linnaeus, 1758 - most of N & C America.
- wardi Ridgway, 1882 - Kansas and Oklahoma to Florida.
- occidentalis Audubon, 1835 - S Florida through W Indies to islands off Venezuela.
- cognata Bangs, 1903 - Galapagos.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
-
An adult on the nest with its chicks and a close-up of them. Locality South Venice, Sarasota County, Florida, USA (United States) (ssp wardi)
Bill Wayman 1 June 2004 3 years ago 32 sec 4.5 -
An adult on the nest, then its pair arriving with nesting material. Locality South Venice, Sarasota County, Florida, USA (United States) (ssp wardi)
Bill Wayman 1 June 2004 3 years ago 32 sec 4.5 -
A lateral view of an immature standing quietly looking around. Locality Santa Clara River Estuary, Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp herodias)
Don DesJardin 26 September 2009 2 years ago 33 sec 4.4 -
A pair on the nest, one of them building it and the other one flying away. Locality South Venice, Sarasota County, Florida, USA (United States) (ssp wardi)
Bill Wayman 1 June 2004 3 years ago 39 sec 4.3 -
A bird fishing by harpooning its prey, then walking with the fish in the bill Locality Central Gulf Coast, Texas, USA (United States) (ssp wardi)
Bruce Steger 8 March 2000 3 years ago 52 sec 4.3 -
In the water Locality Louisiana, USA (United States)
Juan Sanabria 1 August 2011 2 weeks ago ADDED LAST MONTH 40 sec 4.3
-
A bird in flight, showing excellent feather details.
Locality St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada (ssp herodias)
Miriam Bauman 6 August 2009 1 year ago 4.4 -
Great Blue Heron
Locality Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA (United States) (ssp herodias)
Alex Woodruff 19 April 2011 17 weeks ago 4.3 -
A Great Blue Heron
Locality Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA (United States) (ssp herodias)
Alex Woodruff 10 August 2010 17 weeks ago 4.3 -
Bird (in breeding plumage) photographed near fresh water lagoon in Sea Pines Plantation
Locality Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina, USA (United States)
Tom Moxley 22 January 2012 2 weeks ago ADDED LAST MONTH 4.2 -
A Great Blue Heron with Turtle
Locality Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA (United States) (ssp herodias)
Alex Woodruff 30 June 2010 17 weeks ago 4.2 -
Great blue heron cruising down the shoreline near Destin.
Locality Destin, Okaloosa County, Florida, USA (United States) (ssp wardi)
Mike Ross 12 July 2009 2 years ago 4.2
-
Click to play
Calls given by a bird in flight. Locality Tárcoles, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
(ssp herodias)
Scott Olmstead 7 February 2010 1 year ago 3
Email this page