Zunaid Khan Photography

The great blue heron (Ardea herodias) is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America, as well as far northwestern South America, the Caribbean and the Galápagos Islands. It is occasionally found in the Azores and is a rare vagrant to Europe.

Whether poised at a river bend or cruising the coastline with slow, deep wingbeats, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight. This stately heron with its subtle blue-gray plumage often stands motionless as it scans for prey or wades belly deep with long, deliberate steps. They may move slowly, but Great Blue Herons can strike like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a gopher. In flight, look for this widespread heron’s tucked-in neck and long legs trailing out behind.

In the Toronto area, this bird can be seen in wetlands, along rivers and along Lake Ontario for most of the year. There are some of these birds stay in the area as last early winter due to warming temperatures.

Here is a selection of photos of the beautiful bird.

I have photos of the Great Blue Heron and the Great Egret that are available for purchase as prints and digital licenses.

You can find them here.