Ardea herodias
Length: 40-50 in Wingspan: 65-80 in Weight: 5-6 lbs
Identification:
Blue/gray body; neck reddish gray on back and streaked black and white on front. Black and white head with orange bill. In Florida, occasionally found in an all white form.
Distribution:
Resident throughout the continental United States, with range extending into Canada in summer and Central America in winter.
Cool Facts:
Great Blue Herons are extremely adaptable hunters, spearing prey in secluded swamps, agricultural fields, neighborhood ponds, oceanic kelp beds, and, for some unlucky farmers, fish hatcheries.
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References:
Bird on the Move 