Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Adult
- Large, graceful heron with long neck and legs
- Stout yellow and gray bill
- Crown striped with black and white
- Blue-gray body
- © Marie Read
Great Blue Heron
Adult
- Very long neck and legs
- Large, dagger-like bill
- Gray body with rusty thighs
- Black and white striped crown
- © Brian Guest, FL, Indian Rocks Beach, March 2009
Great Blue Heron
Juvenile
- Broad, two-toned wings
- Long legs and slender, curving neck
- Dark crown and gray body
- Black-and-white striped throat and breast
- © Helen Pine, FL, March 2008
Great Blue Heron
White form "Great White Heron"
- Common in Florida Keys
- Pure white overall
- Heavy yellow bill
- Dull yellow-gray legs
- © Jim Gilbert, FL, Marathon, April 2007
Great Blue Heron
Juvenile
- Solid dark crown
- Black and white striped throat and neck
- Two-toned bill
- Uses long bill to spear fish
- © Greg Bishop, FL, Merritt Island NWR, Titusville, October 2007
Great Blue Heron
Adult feeding nestling
- Adult with black and white striped crownand blue-gray body
- Juvenile with solid black cap and dusky gray body.
- © Helen Pine, FL, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, February 2008
Great Blue Heron
Adult at nest
- Large, bulky stick nest usually built in tall snag near water
- Long legs
- Gray body
- Black and white striped crown
- © Cameron Rognan, NY, Ithaca, June 2009
Great Blue Heron
Adult in flight
- Broad, two-toned wings
- Long legs trail behind body
- Heavy yellow bill
- © Judy Howle/GBBC, MS, Columbus
Great Blue Heron
Adult breeding
- Adults develop wispy plumes on breast and back of head in spring
- Bold black and white striped crown
- Blue-gray body
- © Kurt Hasselman, VA, Assateague Island, Chincoteague, March 2011
Similar Species
Adults
- Similar from a distance but easily distinguishable from Great Blue Heron
- Shorter black bill
- Shorter neck and heavier body
- Pale cheek and red crown
- © Laura Erickson, FL, December 2005
Adult
- Similar to white form of Great Blue Heron, "Great White Heron"
- Black legs
- Thinner, bright orange-yellow bill
- No head plumes
- © Robert Baker, VA, September 2007
Adult
- Easily distinguishable from Great Blue Heron
- Much smaller and slimmer
- Dark slaty-blue overall
- Pale blue/gray bill with black tip
- © Russ C
Adult
- Similar from a distance but easily distinguishable from Great Blue Heron
- Smaller and slimmer with longer, more slender bill
- Dark, grayish blue upperparts
- White belly
- © Ken Schneider, FL, February 2009