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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies (Order Pelecaniformes)

-Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (Family Ardeidae)

-Typical Herons and Egrets (Subfamily Ardeinae)

-Great Herons (Genus Ardea)

-Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)


The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in North America. Forages mostly by standing still or walking very slowly in shallow water, waiting for fish to swim near, then striking with rapid thrust of bill. Also forages on shore, from floating objects, and in grassland. May hunt by day or night. The primary food for great blue heron is small fish. It is also known to opportunistically feed on larger fish and a wide range of shrimp, crabs, aquatic insects, rodents, and other small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds.

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Diet

  • Primarily fish, but also feeds on frogs, salamanders, snakes, turtles, crayfish, crabs, aquatic insects, and small mammals.

  • Occasionally takes small birds and their chicks.

  • Hunts by standing motionless or slowly stalking through shallow water before striking prey with its long, spear-like bill.

Range

  • Found throughout North America, from southern Canada south through the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and into northern South America.

  • Occurs throughout Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region, where it is a common year-round resident along the coast and inland wetlands.

  • Inhabits marshes, rivers, lakes, ponds, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons, reservoirs, mudflats, and coastal shorelines.

  • Northern populations migrate south during winter, while birds in Mexico are primarily resident.

Male / Female

  • Male: Slightly larger and heavier than the female, with a somewhat longer bill and more elongated head plumes during the breeding season.

  • Female: Similar plumage but slightly smaller and more slender.

  • Sexes cannot be reliably distinguished in the field except by size or when observed together.

Size

  • Length: 97–137 cm (38–54 in)

  • Wingspan: 167–201 cm (66–79 in)

  • Weight: 2.1–3.6 kg (4.6–7.9 lb)

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