[Length 46 in. Wingspan 72 in.]

Great Blue Herons are a common sight in marshes and waterways throughout the US and southern Canada. They are the largest of all the New World Herons and Egrets, and are often misidentified as Cranes because of their dark color and large size. Herons and Egrets nest in colonies and build nests of sticks in low trees near the water. During the breeding season, adult Great Blue Herons grow wispy head plumes, which can be seen blowing in the wind on this bird. This one was photographed at Brigantine NWR, New Jersey, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: April 1986)

[Length 46 in. Wingspan 72 in.]

This Great Blue Heron was photographed in the foothills near Arroyo Grande, California, USA. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.0 Nikkor EDAF lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: September 1997)

[Length 46 in. Wingspan 72 in.]

This Great Blue Heron was photographed hunting in the Lily Pads at Eco Pond in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: March 1982)

[Length 46 in. Wingspan 72 in.]

This Great Blue Heron was photographed at a nest on a channel marker at South Padre Island, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor EDAF 180 f2.8 lens on Kodak Elitechrome 200 film. (Date: April 2001)

[Length 46 in. Wingspan 72 in.]

This Great Blue Heron was photographed at a nest on a channel marker at South Padre Island, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor EDAF 180 f2.8 lens on Kodak Elitechrome 200 film. (Date: April 2001)

[Length 46 in. Wingspan 72 in.]

These three (look carefully!) downy young Great Blue Herons were photographed at a nest on a channel marker at South Padre Island, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor EDAF 180 f2.8 lens on Kodak Elitechrome 200 film. (Date: April 2001)

[Length 46 in. Wingspan 72 in.]

This Great Blue Heron was photographed at Lake Balmorhea, Balmorhea, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens + Nikkor TC20E II 2.0x Teleconverter (EFL=900mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: November 19, 2008)

[Length 46 in. Wingspan 72 in.]

This Great Blue Heron in flight was photographed at Lake Balmorhea, Balmorhea, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens + Nikkor TC20E II 2.0x Teleconverter (EFL=900mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: November 19, 2008)

[Length 46 in. Wingspan 72 in.]

This Great Blue Heron was photographed at the Convention Center Boardwalk, South Padre Island, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D300 camera. (Date: January 11, 2012)