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Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Description:

Had what appeared to be an injured wing. Approx. 3 ft. tall.

Habitat:

Near small pond

9 Comments

MitchRay
MitchRay 12 years ago

It's a Great Blue Heron. The dark cap is a pretty good give away.

Atul
Atul 12 years ago

its a heron for sure

cathcfitz
cathcfitz 12 years ago

It seemed to be pretty mobile, walked around and through a shallow pond and then made its way up into this low branch. I didn't see if it was able to fly up into the branch or if it walked up the sloped trunk. Either way, I think it was glad to have a water source during this oppressive TX heat as of late.

LauraMaria
LauraMaria 12 years ago

Ohhh, right okay that second photo is very helpful, definitely NOT a vulture! Heron for sure. It looks in a very bad way, was it okay in the end?

MickGrant
MickGrant 12 years ago

Cath,Thanks for the photo - Shape suggests Tricolored Heron but as it appears damaged my wife and I suggest more likely the Great Blue.

cathcfitz
cathcfitz 12 years ago

I'll add a better view of it's long beak and neck...def not a vulture

LauraMaria
LauraMaria 12 years ago

I agree with Mick that it looks more like a vulture. Adult turkey vultures are just over 3ft tall, so it's a good fit!

MickGrant
MickGrant 12 years ago

What about a juvinile Turkey Vulture?

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 12 years ago

I would guess he is holding his wings out because of the heat like ours do in Florida.

cathcfitz
Spotted by
cathcfitz

Texas, USA

Spotted on Jul 24, 2011
Submitted on Jul 24, 2011

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