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Ardea herodias
It is the largest North American heron, with a head-to-tail length of 91–140 cm (36–55 in), a wingspan of 167–201 cm (66–79 in), and a weight of 2–3.6 kg (4.4-8 lbs). Notable features include slaty flight feathers, red-brown thighs, and a paired red-brown and black stripe up the flanks; the neck is rusty-gray, with black and white streaking down the front; the head is paler, with a nearly white face, and a pair of black plumes running from just above the eye to the back of the head. The feathers on the lower neck are long and plume-like; it also has plumes on the lower back at the start of the breeding season. -Wikipedia
It can be found in a range of habitats, in fresh and saltwater marshes, mangrove swamps, flooded meadows, lake edges, or shorelines, but always close to bodies of water, usually nesting in trees or bushes.-Wikipedia
Spotted on Jun 14, 2011
Submitted on Jun 14, 2011
8 Comments
Hi Alice, This heron is standing in a similar hunched position that the night herons do and certainly looks much like a black-crowned night heron, but this is indeed a great blue heron.
Birders recognize that location and range are important considerations, but sometimes birds show up far outside of their range due to storms or even wanderlust. However, certainly Connecticut has both black-crowned and yellow crowned night herons (although the latter is rarely seen) and even an occasional sandhill crane. All of which I've seen confused for great blue herons and each other and with good reason as they do resemble each other.
One of the intriguing things about Project Noah is that there are people of widely varying levels of expertise here and there will be disagreements as to ID of some species. That should be expected. Those disagreements force us to think more critically about our IDs and therefore help the community as a whole. In fact, I've been pointed out as being wrong on several occasions (and...justifiably so in a couple of them...grin). Both sides are important in this discussion.
Perhaps I should clarify what I see as the problem. I have never questioned whether you have Blue Herons. I am sure you do, but you say you do not have Night Herons and my birdbook says you do have Night Herons. I simply think this is a beautiful Night heron and not a Blue Heron.
When Gordan says it is a Blue Heron and not a Night Heron I will agree.
This is a Blue Heron. A Night heron is much smaller- shorter legs stumpier body. Head is also a give away. Definitely a blue. Nice shot as well!!
Yes, Connecticut. They are common here.
You saw this bird in Connecticut?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_heron... We do not have this species here
Sorry, I believe this is a Night Heron. You bird experts want to jump in?