The great blue heron lives near the Hudson River.
The great blue heron is not really blue. Its feathers are light gray and it has a long yellow beak.
It is known to bark like a dog when startled!
The great blue heron stands as tall as 4.5 feet. That is as tall as many fourth graders! The wing span of the great blue heron can be as big as 6 feet, 6 inches. That is as tall as some professional basketball players! These large and powerful wings provide the locomotion for flying as fast as 30 miles per hour!
The great blue heron is a predator whose diet is made up of a variety of prey. They eat fish, mice, squirrels, snakes, frogs, insects, and other small animals. The great blue heron waits by the water until it sees a fish. The great blue heron's sharp bill has been adapted so it can quickly thrust it into the water and capture a fish as it swims by. The long "S" shaped neck of the great blue heron has been adapted to allow it to eat fish, mice, and other small animals whole. Occasionally, great blue herons choke on fish or other prey that are too large.
The habitat of the great blue heron is always near a body of water, like the Hudson River. It makes its nest in tall trees near the Hudson River. Great blue herons nest in groups called colonies, but they like to hunt alone.
The long "S" shaped neck of the great blue heron makes it possible to:
 |
Animal |
 |