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.
| 🇫🇷 | Grand Héron |
| 🇩🇪 | Kanadareiher |
| 🇲🇽 | Garza Azul |
| Taxonomy | |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
How to Identify
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.
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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 |
| Source | Wikipedia |
Videos
Videos are hosted on YouTube. Click on a thumbnail to watch it.
Where and When to Spot
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.
Observation Records by Park and Season
| 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, Lachine | - | x | x | - |
| Parc des Étangs Antoine-Charlebois | - | x | - | - |
| Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park | - | 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.
Questions & Answers
Delve deeper into distribution, habitat, behavior, and ecological role of the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). Click on a question to uncover the answer.
Is the Great Blue Heron a carnivore?
Yes, it is indeed a carnivore. Its diet primarily consists of fish, but this species also preys on frogs, salamanders, turtles, snakes, insects, rodents, and even other birds.
Is the Great Blue Heron a nocturnal bird?
No, it is primarily active during the day but may also feed at dawn or dusk when prey is more abundant or less alert.
Does the Great Blue Heron hunt alone?
Yes, it does. This species can often be observed hunting alone, typically standing motionless on a branch or stone protruding from the water, or wading along coastlines, in marshes, or near the shores of ponds or streams.
Is the Great Blue Heron a territorial bird?
Yes, this bird species defends its feeding and nesting areas from intruders. It may use vocalizations, postures, or even physical attacks to deter rivals or predators.
Is the Great Blue Heron a vocal bird?
No, this bird species does not produce many sounds. It is mostly silent, except for some harsh croaks or squawks when disturbed or in flight.
Is the Great Blue Heron a monogamous bird?
No, it is not a monogamous bird in the sense of mating with only one partner for life. However, during the breeding season, it does form pair bonds with a mate. These pair bonds are temporary and typically last for the duration of the breeding season.
Is the Great Blue Heron a good parent?
Yes, it is indeed a dedicated parent and exhibits strong parental care behaviors. Both parents collaborate in building the nest, incubating the eggs, and providing food for the chicks once they hatch until they are ready to fledge.
Is the Great Blue Heron a migratory bird?
Yes. Most populations of this species are migratory, although some are resident year-round. The migratory ones breed in Canada and the northern United States and winter in Central America and the Caribbean.
Is the Great Blue Heron an endangered species?
No, this bird species is not at risk of extinction. However, one subspecies, the Pacific Great Blue Heron, is considered of special concern in Canada due to habitat loss and human disturbance. (see references)
Does the Great Blue Heron nest in trees?
Yes, this bird species prefers tall trees for nesting. However, sometimes it nests in low shrubs or on the ground if no suitable trees are available.
Does the Great Blue Heron have a long lifespan?
Yes, it does. The average lifespan of a Great Blue Heron in the wild is 15 years, but some individuals have been recorded to live up to 24 years.