Blue Herons!

• what they look like:
  • large, buish-gray bird
  • long legs
  • long, S-shaped neck
  • long, thick bill
  • white crown stripe
  • black plume extending from behind the eye to the back of the neck
  • shaggy feathers on neck and back
  • reddish or gray neck (All About Birds)
• herons live in North America and the Caribbean
  • the herons in the Caribbean are Great White Herons, which are the same species, but a color morph (National Geographic)
• habitat:
  • marsh
  • calm freshwater and seacoasts
  • shallow marine habitats (All About Birds)
• average lifespan: 15 years (National Geographic)
• size:
  • 3.2-4.5 feet tall
  • 5.5-6.6 feet wingspan (National Geographic)
• can fly 20-30 mph (National Geographic)
• eat:
  • fish
  • mice
  • insects
  • other small animal (National Geographic)
• call: a deep, hoarse croak (All About Birds)
• nest in colonies in trees (All About Birds)
• behavior:
  • often stand silently, waiting for prey to come
  • stalk prey slowly and deliberately
  • strike with their bill (Bird Web)
• similar species
  • Sandhill Crane- larger, bushy feathers on its rump, a shorter bill, red cap, found in fields
  • Little Blue Heron- smaller and more slender, no plumes on the head, all dark blue-gray, greenish legs
  • Tericolored Heron- more slender, white head plumes, white belly
  • Great Egret- white, more slender, no head plumes, black legs (All About Birds)