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Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Photo by cathcfitz
Published on Project Noah
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29.6722, -96.4325

Field Notes

Description:

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

Habitat:

Near small pond

Species ID Suggestions

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Reference Link
1Sarah2
2

Comments (9)
MitchRay
It's a Great Blue Heron. The dark cap is a pretty good give away.
Atul
its a heron for sure
cathcfitz
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
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
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
I'll add a better view of it's long beak and neck...def not a vulture
LauraMaria
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
What about a juvinile Turkey Vulture?
alicelongmartin
I would guess he is holding his wings out because of the heat like ours do in Florida.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
Birds of Texas
Photographed
PublishedJuly 24, 2011

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