Great Blue Heron

The largest member of the heron family in North America is the great blue heron. These prehistoric looking birds have a wingspan of over six feet and weigh up to eight pounds. They can be found in or near fresh or salt water from northern Canada to northern South America.

Great blue herons are carnivorous. They hunt by stalking through the shallow water on their long legs, when they spot prey they lung forward and attempt to catch the prey with their bill. Prey consists mostly of fish but they will also eat reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates as well as small mammals and birds. Because they do not have the ability to tear their food apart the way that raptors do herons have been known on occasion to choke to death while trying to swallow large prey.