The Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue HeronThis large North American heron is common on fresh as well as salt waters, and is frequently found standing at the edge of a pond or marsh hunting for fish or frogs.  When hunting, the Great Blue Heron walks slowly through shallows or stands with it’s head hunched atop its shoulders. The head is predominantly white; females have a black crown and males have a black crest extending out behind the nape of their head.  The males also have long, thin feathers on their back and breast.  The body is mostly a grey-ish blue, with specks of black and hints of red.  Their average length is 38 inches, average wingspan is 70 inches.