Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a striking and majestic bird, renowned for its impressive size and elegant presence along the waterways of North America. With its long legs and distinctive blue-gray plumage, this heron is a masterful hunter, often seen wading through shallow waters in search of fish, amphibians, and other small prey.
Common Names
| 🇨🇦 | Great Blue Heron |
| 🇫🇷 | Grand Héron |
| 🇩🇪 | Kanadareiher |
| 🇲🇽 | Garza Azul |
Taxonomy
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
Characteristics
| Length | 91–137cm |
| Weight | 1.82–3.6kg |
| Wingspan | 167–201cm |
| Clutch Size | 2-6 eggs |
| Incubation | 27-29 days |
| Fledging | 56-60 days |
| Sexual Maturity | 2-3 years |
Explore More
📖 Wikipedia Page: For more information about this species.
Identification and Whereabouts
The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron observed in Montreal. It is predominantly gray with distinctive white markings on its head. This majestic bird can be easily distinguished from the slightly smaller Great Egret, which is entirely white.
The Great Blue Heron is typically observed moving slowly through reeds or standing on logs and stones in flowing water. It is visible from early spring to late autumn, provided the shores of rivers and lakes remain unfrozen. The heron migrates south in late autumn.
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parc Angrignon | x | x | x | - |
| Parc Bernard-Landry | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Michel-Chartrand | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Mont Saint-Bruno | - | x | - | - |
| Parc de la Frayère | x | x | - | - |
| Parc des Rapides | - | x | x | - |
| Parc des Étangs Antoine-Charlebois | - | x | - | - |
| Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park | - | x | - | - |
| Parc national du Bic | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | x | - | - | - |
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.
Captured Moments
Videos are hosted on YouTube. Click on a thumbnail to watch it.
Hunting Recorded 2024-05-24 in Parc Michel-Chartrand 
Hunting Recorded 2018-04-14 in Parc des Rapides
All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz
Last updated: 2025-01-05