Great Blue Heron

Great blue herons are the largest herons in North America. They stand approximately 60 cm tall and are 97 to 137 cm long. They weigh 2.1 to 2.5 kg. They feature blue-gray upperparts with long, thin white-gray plumes adorning their backs and wing scapulars. In flight they have bi-colored wings with dark bluish-gray primaries and secondaries. Individuals often have patches of reddish or black feathers on their sides, flanks, and thighs. The long legs are yellowish-green to dark gray in color. Their long necks vary in color from white to buffy, rusty-red, or gray, usually lightest nearer the head. A ring of white or gray plumes surrounds the base of the neck. Throat, crown and auriculars are white, and eyes are pale yellow in color. They feature a thick, blackish face stripe that begins at the lores, extends through the supercilium, partially down the back of the nape and into several, long plumes. Their straight, pointed bills are mostly yellow, but the upper mandible may be gray near the base.