Minnesota Seasons - Great Blue Heron

Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy


Conservation Status
IUCN Red List	LC - Least Concern
NatureServe	N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding SNRB - Unranked Breeding
Minnesota	not listed

Photo by Ramona Abrego

Description

Great Blue Heron is the largest heron native to North America. They are present in Minnesota from March through October and winter along the ice-free coasts and watercourses of southeastern United States and the Caribbean. Most live about 15 years in the wild, though some have been recorded surviving over 24 years.

Adults are 38″ to 54″ long, weigh 74 to 88 ounces, and have a wingspan of about 7′. Males are slightly larger than females.

The wings and back are bluish-gray except for a black shoulder patch. The legs are long, stilt-like, and dark gray except for chestnut brown feathers on the thighs. The chest and belly are whitish. The neck is long and curving. It is grayish-blue on the back, whitish underneath, and with white, black, and rust-brown.

The eyes are yellow. The bill is long, straight, and yellow. The face is white with a black stripe extending from the bill to the back of the head. During Breeding season both males and females develop long, slender, black plumes extending from the back of the head and long plumes extending from the body at the neck, breast, and back.

In flight, the neck is folded over the body in an S-curve and the legs trail behind the body.

Size

38″ to 54″in length

72″ wingspan

Voice

A harsh, croaking kraak when disturbed

Similar Species

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) is much smaller and darker. The legs are black.

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) is darker above, white below.

Habitat

Rivers, lake edges, marshes, saltwater shores, and swamps

Ecology

Migration

March to October

Nesting

Great Blue Herons typically breed in colonies of a few to a few hundred nesting pairs. They are serially monogamous, remaining with one partner throughout the Breeding season but choosing a new partner each season. They produce one brood per season.

The male selects a site, usually at the top of a tree, often the same site used the previous year, and attracts a passing female. Together they build the nest, the male gathering materials, the female weaving the materials into a platform nest. Often a fresh layer is added to a nest from a previous season.

The female lays usually 4, but as few as 2 or as many as 7, pale blue eggs. The eggs hatch after 26 to 30 days. The young leave the nest after 60 to 81 days.

Food

Mostly small fish but also amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, dragonflies, grasshoppers, crayfish, and other aquatic invertebrates.

Distribution

Occurrence

Common migrant and breeder

Maps

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map


Taxonomy
Class	Aves (birds)
Order	Pelecaniformes (pelicans, herons, ibises, and allies)
Family	Ardeidae (bitterns, egrets, herons)
Subfamily	Ardeinae (typical herons and egrets)
Genus	Ardea (great herons)

Bitterns, egrets, and herons (family Ardeidae) were formerly classified under the order Ciconiiformes. Based on a phylogenomic study published in 2008, the family was transferred to the order Pelecaniformes.

Subordinate Taxa
Galapagos Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias cognata) Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias herodias) Great White Heron (Ardea herodias occidentalis) Northwest Coast Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias fannini) Ward’s Heron (Ardea herodias wardi)

Synonyms


Visitor Photos

Share your photo of this bird.
		This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.


Karen Weidner


Amy Hansen


Glenn Mischke


John Haehn


Ramona Abrego


Lynn Rubey

A Great Blue Heron flew into the marsh between Pool 7 and the West pool. Landing among the reeds and yellow pond lilies near the edges of the marsh in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.		A Great Blue Heron in flight in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.


Carl Wegener (Agingyooper)


Wayne Rasmussen



		Pentax K10D DA 55-300mm @ 300mm, 1/4000th, f7.1, ISO 800 handheld- a little patience and luck in Maplewood Hts Park, my backyard. ~2008, Our resident heron


Heron & painted turtle in Maplewood Hts Park		Urban parks host a large variety of wildlife if you really spend some time observing.


Kirk Nelson

Crosby Farm Regional Park		Fort Snelling State Park, Near the boat launch on Snelling Lake


Tom Baker


MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos



Unknown subspecies on wintering grounds at Padre Island, Texas

Camera

Slideshows

Great Blue Heron
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Great Blue Heron
Ed McVicker

Great Blue Heron
JMC Nature Photos

slideshow


Visitor Videos

Share your video of this bird.
		This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.

Amy Hansen

Great Blue Heron 01
Published on May 9, 2022

About

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Lake Fremont, Zimmerman MN

5/8/2022

Video by Amy Hansen


Other Videos

Great Blue Heron (Ardeidae: Ardea herodias) Hunting from Shore
Carl Barrentine

About

Uploaded on May 19, 2010

A stealthy Great Blue Heron takes advantage of the tall grass bordering the water's edge, as well as the position of the late afternoon sun, to stalk and catch an unwary small fish. Photographed at Maple Lake, Minnesota (18 may 2010).

Great Blue Heron Near Fish (Ardea herodias)
animals2x2

About

Uploaded on Oct 21, 2011

Watch the Heron and learn how to recognize its unique characteristics. This video captures behaviors and identifies the size, shape and distinctive markings of the Heron. The Heron can be found in the wild and at a number of zoos around the world. Our Heron video is an ideal study guide for students, kids and children who want to learn more about wild animals. Watch the Heron's movement as it carefully walks amongst fish. The high definition quality allows a clear observation of the Heron's color, habits and features. A child friendly learning tool and visual aid, perfect for schools and teachers to use in conjunction with other teaching methods. Watch and enjoy the Heron clip!

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Fishing at Stanley Park in Vancouver BC 15Apr2010
graywulffe

About

Uploaded on Apr 15, 2010

This Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) found a good fishing hole in Lost Lagoon at Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC. Herons are excellent anglers. They have keen vision and can spot even the tiniest of fish at a fair distance. The bird in the movie caught several piscenes at this one location.

Videometrics:
Canon Rebel T1i (500D)
Canon EF 300mm 1:4 L IS USM
-1/3 EV, 1080p, 20 fps
Monopod, manual focus, program mode

Great Blue Heron (Ardeidae: Ardea herodias) Taking Flight
Carl Barrentine

About

Uploaded on Sep 7, 2009

Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (06 September 2009).

Camcorder


Visitor Sightings

Report a sighting of this bird.
		This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location.

Sue Woulfe
4/16/2024

Location: Pioneer Road, Woodbury MN

Pair spotted attempting to cross the road, nearby pond/ drainage ditch.


Karen Weidner March 2023	Location: Minneapolis Minnesota Rookery


Amy Hansen 5/8/2022	Location: Lake Fremont, Zimmerman MN


John Haehn 6/1/2021	Location: Spirit Lake, Menahga MN

MNlakeknitter
5/15/2020

Location: Turtle Lake #31072500 in Marcell, MN

Walked along our ice ridge (shoreline & marsh area) and in the lake on the west side of the lake, picking up sticks and setting them back down, hunting, catching & eating small fish.


Ldurbs 10/4/2019	Location: Bear Cave school, Stewartville, MN

Lynn Rubey
6/24/2018

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

A Great Blue Heron flew into the marsh between Pool 7 and the West pool. Landing among the reeds and yellow pond lilies near the edges of the marsh in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.