Wildlife : Similar Species : Least Bittern
Identification Tips:
- Length: 11 inches Wingspan: 17 inches
- Very small wading bird
- Buff face and sides to the neck
- White chin, throat, foreneck and belly
- Buff wing coverts visible in flight and at rest
Adult male:
- Black cap
- Black back
- Fairly faint brown streaks on fore-neck
Adult female:
- Brown cap
- Brown back
- More obvious brown streaks on fore-neck
Juvenile:
- Buff cap does not contrast with face
- Blackish streaks on foreneck
- Brown back
Similar species:
Green Heron lacks buff color to head and wings. All other herons are much larger.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.
Fun FactThe Great Blue Heron is relatively quiet compared to other members of its family. The heron releases a soft "kraak" when it is disturbed and in flight. Other calls of the heron include a "fraunk" when the bird is disturbed near its nest, and an "ar" when the heron is greeting other members of its species. |
