San Francisco Bay Seabirds, Great Blue Heron

Sea Birds of the San Francisco Bay, Marin, Northern Coast + Gulf of the Farallones.
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Great Blue Heron Takes Flight. Marin Headlands, Sausalito.

San Francisco Bay Area Bird Watching
SeaBirds of Marin, SF Bay and Gulf of the Farallones

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron Facts:

Great Blue Heron Scientific classification

Great Blue Heron Kingdom: Animalia
Great Blue Heron Phylum: Chordata
Great Blue Heron Class: Aves
Great Blue Heron Order: Ciconiiformes
Great Blue Heron Family: Ardeidae
Great Blue Heron Genus: Ardea
Great Blue Heron Species: A. alba

Great Blue Heron Binomial name

Ardea alba

Description:
The Great Egret is a large bird with all white plumage that can reach 101 cm in height and weigh up to 950 g. It is only slightly smaller than the Great Blue or Grey Herons. Apart from size, the Great Egret can be distinguished from other white egrets by its yellow bill and black legs and feet. It also has a slow flight, with its neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks.

Other Information:
Great Blue Herons are now pletiful around the San Francisco Bay area. They can be found in Muir Woods creek, Sausalito docks and shoreline as well as throughout the North Bay wetlands. The Marin Islands serve as a rookery which is a noisy place to visit. Blue Heron nests are quiet large, spanning from 3 to 5 feet.