Great Blue Heron

Description:

The Great Blue Heron is the largest of the North American herons, standing 45-54 inches tall with a wingspan of 66-79 inches. They are seen throughout North America, hunting in shallow water or open fields. When hunting, Great Blue Herons can be seen standing statue-like or wading slowly as they stalk fish and other small prey.

Habitat:

Lake Lewisville

Notes:

Thanks to specially shaped neck vertebrae, Great Blue Herons can curl their neck into an S shape for a more aerodynamic flight profile and to quickly strike prey at a distance. Great Blue Herons have specialized feathers on their chest that continually grow and fray. The herons comb this “powder down” with a fringed claw on their middle toes, using the down like a washcloth to remove fish slime and other oils from their feathers as they preen. Applying the powder to their underparts protects their feathers against the slime and oils of swamps.