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Great Blue Heron,
Ardea herodias.
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Class: Birds
Order: Herons, Storks, Ibises and Allies
Family: Herons and Bitterns
Species found along the Rideau River:
Great Blue Heron
Characteristics of the family:
Herons and bitterns have long legs, a long neck, a short tail and
long broad wings. Their long straight bill tapers to a point. When they
fly, their neck is doubled back against their shoulders, which differentiates
them from cranes.
| Description |
Large
grey-blue wading bird with a long yellowish bill. The head of
the adult is white, but on either side is a black stripe that
extends into a black crest. |
| Size |
1.05
m to 1.3 m tall from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail. |
| Distribution |
Range
is southern Canada to Mexico. They are found along the entire
Rideau River. Winters from the southern parts of British Columbia
and the northern United States to the northern parts of South
America. |
| Habitat |
Feeds
in wetlands and along shorelines. Usually nests in tall trees,
in colonies of various sizes and at times far from the water.
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| Food |
Fish,
frogs, crayfish, mice, large insects. |
| Life
cycle |
The
female lays 2 to 7 eggs in the spring. Both parents care for
the eggs and newly hatched nestlings. The young leave the nest
after two months. |
| Interesting
facts |
Great
Blue Herons are the largest herons in North America. Adult wingspan
averages 1.8 m! |
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