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WILD ABOUT TEXAS: Blue heron one of state's largest birds

<p>Contributed photo</p><p>The great blue heron is one of the stateâs largest birds.</p>
Posted: Jan. 11, 2015
Posted: Jan. 11, 2015 0

Some of the birds that we observe in their native habitats look as though they just don’t fit in with the other “normal-looking” birds. Sometimes their tails are shorter than we expect, their legs look too long or their bill is a different shape. Occasionally we see a species that has several “goofy-looking” characteristics, like the great blue heron.

The great blue heron (Ardea herodias) occurs in every state of the continental United States during the summer but during the winter can only be observed in the southern states. It is a habitat specialist, rarely observed far from permanent bodies of water — which are not overly abundant here in West Texas.


This avian species has a blue-gray body (hence the name) with a long, black-and-white streaked neck and a disproportionately short tail. The face is white, with two bold, black lines on either side of its crown. The bill is long and powerful and is more often than not yellowish. The long legs, used for wading in shallow water as it searches for prey, are a dirty yellow.

In flight, the legs are stretched straight out while the neck is pulled back into an S-shape. The flight pattern is a simple one, consisting of a straight path with slow, strong and steady wing beats.

Great blue herons are strictly carnivorous, feeding primarily on fish, although other vertebrate animals such as aquatic snakes, turtles, frogs and mice are opportunistically preyed upon. This “long-legged wader” employs two strategies when hunting prey. The first consists of the bird just standing still in shallow water for long periods of time, allowing prey to familiarize themselves with it and even get comfortable with its presence. It then waits for the right moment to capitalize on its prey’s complacency, grabbing its food with a lightning-quick jab of its stout bill.

The second method involves the bird walking slowly along shorelines, lily-covered shallows or grassy meadows, methodically waiting the opportune moment to grab whatever it perceives as potential prey.

During the vast majority of the year, this aquatic species is solitary. However, during breeding season, it will congregate into massive colonies, with males adorned with long, thin black plumes selecting a single female with which to mate.

Pairs are monogamous, and the male collects the supplies needed for nest building while the female uses the twigs, sticks, leaves and grass for the actual nest construction. Most nests are built in trees anywhere from 20 to 50 feet above ground.

One to two broods per year are produced, with two to seven blue eggs being the norm. Both parents incubate the 2-inch-long eggs for about a month. The young are semialtrical, which means they are incapable of fending for themselves. Both parents feed the young, which stay in the nest for almost three months.

Populations of this subtly colored but beautiful bird are stable because of its widespread distribution. Many times this species is referred to by locals as the “blue crane.”

Michael Price is a naturalist and resident of San Angelo.

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