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
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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 4 years ago 32 sec 4.7 -
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 4 years ago 32 sec 4.6 -
A breeding male catching a small fish Locality Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary, Arcata, Humboldt County, California, USA (United States)
AndrewSmith 19 April 2013 4 weeks ago ADDED LAST MONTH 21 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 3 years ago 33 sec 4.5 -
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 4 years ago 39 sec 4.5 -
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 5 years ago 52 sec 4.3
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Adult
Locality Everglades National Park, Florida, USA (United States)
Paul Cools 4 February 2009 29 weeks ago 4.5 -
A bird in flight, showing excellent feather details.
Locality St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada (ssp herodias)
Miriam Bauman 6 August 2009 2 years ago 4.4 -
A very tame adult sitting by the sea.
Locality Florida, USA (United States)
sophiebuck 11 December 2012 15 weeks ago 4.3 -
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 1 year ago 4.3 -
A pair in a nest, close to an Anhinga.
Locality Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA (United States) (ssp wardi)
ellensand 17 December 2012 21 weeks ago 4.3 -
Great Blue Heron
Locality Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA (United States) (ssp herodias)
Alex Woodruff 19 April 2011 1 year ago 4.3
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Calls by one individual. Locality George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, British Columbia, Canada
(ssp fannini)
Josep del Hoyo 17 August 2012 31 weeks ago 3 -
Click to play
Calls given by a bird in flight. Locality Tárcoles, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
(ssp herodias)
Scott Olmstead 7 February 2010 3 years ago 3
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