Great Blue Heron

Description:

Upper parts: greyish-blue; head, white with a wide black stripe on either side, extending from the eye to a long slender crest. Neck: grayish-brown edged with black down sides. Under parts: randomly streaked and coloured black and white. Bill: yellowish, long, tapering to a sharp point. Legs: browny-green, long. Male and female are essentially indistinguishable. Size: 108 - 132 cm (43.25 - 53 in). Eggs: 3 - 5; light greenish-blue. Incubation period: 26 - 27 days.

Habitat:

In and around fish-bearing waterways. In deciduous, coniferous or mixed woods, usually in small colonies. Flattish nest is made of twigs and small branches in the upper parts of tall trees.

Notes:

The Great Blue Heron's long, stilt-like legs allow it to wade in shallow waters to feed on a diet of fish, frogs and water snakes. It will also eat salamanders, large insects, mice and other small rodents. The song of the Great Blue Heron is a goose-like "onk".