(Ardea herodias)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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NatureServe | N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding SNRB - Unranked Breeding |
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Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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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. |
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Size |
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38″ to 54″in length 72″ wingspan |
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Voice |
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A harsh, croaking kraak when disturbed |
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Similar Species |
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Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) is much smaller and darker. The legs are black. Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) is darker above, white below. |
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Habitat |
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Rivers, lake edges, marshes, saltwater shores, and swamps |
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Biology |
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Migration |
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March to October |
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Nesting |
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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. |
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Food |
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Mostly small fish but also amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, dragonflies, grasshoppers, crayfish, and other aquatic invertebrates. |
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Distribution |
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Occurrence |
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Common migrant and breeder |
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Maps |
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The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
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Taxonomy |
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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. |
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Subordinate Taxa |
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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) |
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Synonyms |
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Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this bird. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
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Karen Weidner |
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Amy Hansen |
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Glenn Mischke |
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John Haehn |
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Ramona Abrego |
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Lynn Rubey |
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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. | ![]() |
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A Great Blue Heron in flight in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. |
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Agingyooper |
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Wayne Rasmussen |
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Urban parks host a large variety of wildlife if you really spend some time observing. |
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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 | ![]() |
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Heron & painted turtle in Maplewood Hts Park |
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Kirk Nelson |
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Crosby Farm Regional Park |
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Fort Snelling State Park, Near the boat launch on Snelling Lake |
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Tom Baker |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Unknown subspecies on wintering grounds at Padre Island, Texas |
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Slideshows |
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Great Blue Heron |
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Great Blue Heron |
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Great Blue Heron |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this bird. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
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Amy Hansen |
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Great Blue Heron 01 Published on May 9, 2022 |
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About
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Lake Fremont, Zimmerman MN 5/8/2022 Video by Amy Hansen |
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Other Videos |
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Great Blue Heron (Ardeidae: Ardea herodias) Hunting from Shore Carl Barrentine |
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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). |
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Great Blue Heron Near Fish (Ardea herodias) animals2x2 |
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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! |
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Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Fishing at Stanley Park in Vancouver BC 15Apr2010 graywulffe |
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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: |
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Great Blue Heron (Ardeidae: Ardea herodias) Taking Flight Carl Barrentine |
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About
Uploaded on Sep 7, 2009 Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (06 September 2009). |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this bird. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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Karen Weidner March 2023 |
Location: Minneapolis Minnesota Rookery |
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Amy Hansen 5/8/2022 |
Location: Lake Fremont, Zimmerman MN |
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John Haehn 6/1/2021 |
Location: Spirit Lake, Menahga MN |
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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. |
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Ldurbs 10/4/2019 |
Location: Bear Cave school, Stewartville, MN |
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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. |
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Lynn Rubey 10/29/2018 |
Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge A Great Blue Heron in flight in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. |
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Dug 8/4/2018 |
Location: Big Lake, MN Saw a great blue heron, first time, in my back yard in a tree over the pond in Big Lake, MN. |
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Ramona Abrego 7/17/2018 |
Location: Becker County |
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Agingyooper 6/15/2018 |
Location: North Stillwater MN |
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Wayne Rasmussen 5/23/2018 |
Location: Maplewood Heights Park |
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Phil Rehm 10/22/2017 |
Location: Lake Susan in Chanhassen |
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Kirk Nelson 6/30/2017 |
Location: Crosby Farm Regional Park |
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Wayne Rasmussen 5/16/2011 |
Location: Maplewood Heights Park |
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Wayne Rasmussen 6/28/2016 |
Location: Maplewood Heights Park Urban parks host a large variety of wildlife if you really spend some time observing. |
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Wayne Rasmussen 5/18/2011 |
Location: Maplewood Heights Park |
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Wayne Rasmussen 4/23/2003 |
Location: Maplewood Heights Park |
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Wayne Rasmussen about 2008 |
Location: Maplewood Heights Park 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 |
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Wayne Rasmussen 5/31/2015 |
Location: Maplewood Heights Park Heron & painted turtle in Maplewood Hts Park |
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Marilyn May Summer 2015 |
Location: Pond along Cannon Valley Trail |
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Kirk Nelson 9/27/2015 |
Location: Fort Snelling State Park Near the boat launch on Snelling Lake |
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Tom Baker 4/2/2011 |
Location: Edenbrook Conservation Area |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge Clinton Falls Dwarf Trout Lily SNA Lake Alexander Woods SNA, South Unit Minnesota Valley NWR, Long Meadow Lake Unit Minnesota Valley NWR, Louisville Swamp Unit Minnesota Valley NWR, Rapids Lake Unit Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, Lawrence Unit Mound Spring Prairie SNA, North Unit Rieck’s Lake Park and Campground (Alma, Wisconsin) Robert Ney Memorial Park Reserve Sand Prairie Wildlife Management and Environmental Education Area |
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Created 10/5/2012
Last Updated: