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Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Bird · family Ardeidae · order Pelecaniformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Great Blue Heron
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
50 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
24 years[4]

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a bird in the heron family, Ardeidae[5]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[1], and NatureServe lists it as native in 50 US states and territories[3].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Great Blue Heron as Secure worldwide, with a global rank of G5[2]. In the United States it is ranked Secure both in the breeding season and outside it[6], and the IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. As a bird on the federal migratory bird list, it is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals

Where Great Blue Heron lives

NatureServe lists the Great Blue Heron as native across the country, from Alaska to Florida and from California to Maine, plus the District of Columbia[3]. State ranks vary from place to place, and the table on this page shows the rank for each state[10]. People report it most often on GBIF in Florida, California, Texas, Ohio and New York, which reflects where people look, not how many herons live there[11].

Alaska: native, state rank S3AKMaine: native, state rank S4BMEWisconsin: native, state rank S4BWIVermont: native, state rank S3BVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S4BNHWashington: native, state rank S4B,S5NWAIdaho: native, state rank S4BIDMontana: native, state rank S3MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRBNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRBMNIllinois: native, state rank S4ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S4B,S5NMAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: native, state rank S5NVWyoming: native, state rank S4BWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S4BSDIowa: native, state rank S3BIAIndiana: native, state rank S4BINOhio: native, state rank S4OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5B,S4N,S4MPANew Jersey: native, state rank S3B,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S4BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S2BRICalifornia: native, state rank S4CAUtah: native, state rank S4UTColorado: native, state rank S3BCONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S3B,S4NKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S3B,S4NWVVirginia: native, state rank S3B,S5NVAMaryland: native, state rank S4B,S3NMDDelaware: native, state rank S3BDEArizona: native, state rank S5AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S4B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S4KSArkansas: native, state rank S3B,S4NARTennessee: native, state rank S4TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5B,S5NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S4NDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5B,S5NLAMississippi: native, state rank S5BMSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S4GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S5FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (50 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
AlaskaS3Vulnerable
ArizonaS5Secure
ArkansasS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
CaliforniaS4Apparently Secure
ColoradoS3BVulnerable (breeding)
ConnecticutS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
DelawareS3BVulnerable (breeding)
District of ColumbiaS4NApparently Secure (nonbreeding)
FloridaS5Secure
GeorgiaS4Apparently Secure
IdahoS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
IllinoisS4Apparently Secure
IndianaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
IowaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
KansasS4Apparently Secure
KentuckyS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
LouisianaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MaineS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
MarylandS4B,S3NApparently Secure (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
MassachusettsS4B,S5NApparently Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MississippiS5BSecure (breeding)
MissouriS5Secure
MontanaS3Vulnerable
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
NevadaS5Secure
New HampshireS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
New JerseyS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS4B,S5NApparently Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
North DakotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OhioS4Apparently Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS4Apparently Secure
PennsylvaniaS5B,S4N,S4MSecure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding), Apparently Secure (migrant)
Rhode IslandS2BImperiled (breeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
TennesseeS4Apparently Secure
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
UtahS4Apparently Secure
VermontS3BVulnerable (breeding)
VirginiaS3B,S5NVulnerable (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WashingtonS4B,S5NApparently Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
West VirginiaS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
WyomingS4BApparently Secure (breeding)

Habitat

This heron uses many kinds of wet and open places, including freshwater and salty marshes, shallow water, river mouths, lagoons, tidal flats and riverside areas[12][13]. It also turns up in fields, meadows, old fields and several types of forest[12][13]. For nesting it usually picks tall trees in swamps or wooded areas, and less often shrubs, the ground, rock ledges or sea cliffs[13]. Nests tend to sit near the places where the birds find food, often alongside other herons[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

It is a meat eater whose diet is estimated at about 50% fish, 30% invertebrates, 10% warm-blooded vertebrates and 10% reptiles and amphibians[14]. Besides fish it takes insects, crayfish and other crustaceans, frogs, snakes, mice and shrews, usually hunting while standing in water but sometimes in fields[15]. A typical adult is about 117 cm (46 in) long[16]. A typical adult weighs about 6 lb[17]. A clutch size is 3 to 7[18], both parents incubate it for 25 to 29 days, and the young leave the nest after 60 to 90 days[18]. The oldest known wild Great Blue Heron from banding records was at least 24 years 6 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 117 cm (46 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 2.6 kg (6 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[19] 24.5 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 24 years 6 months
Litter or clutch size[20] 4
Gestation or incubation[21] 28 days
Female maturity[22] 669 days (about 1.8 years)
Food habits[23] Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore
Migration[24] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[14]

  • 50% fish
  • 30% invertebrates
  • 10% warm-blooded vertebrates
  • 10% reptiles and amphibians

When to look for it

Great Blue Herons are mostly crepuscular, meaning they are busiest at dawn and dusk, but they also feed by day and at night[25][26]. Along the coast, their activity often follows the tides[25]. Northern birds arrive on their breeding grounds from February to early May and leave in September and October, while some southern birds stay put all year[27]. On GBIF, most US records fall in April, May and September, which shows when people report herons rather than how many there are[28].

January: 853,445 recordsJanFebruary: 692,832 recordsFebMarch: 841,361 recordsMarApril: 1,286,903 recordsAprMay: 1,461,331 recordsMayJune: 822,657 recordsJunJuly: 844,903 recordsJulAugust: 997,739 recordsAugSeptember: 1,050,439 recordsSepOctober: 946,119 recordsOctNovember: 796,568 recordsNovDecember: 768,910 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[28].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January853,445
February692,832
March841,361
April1,286,903
May1,461,331
June822,657
July844,903
August997,739
September1,050,439
October946,119
November796,568
December768,910

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Great Blue Heron as present in 229 park units[29]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 205 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, California, Texas, Ohio, New York[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Great Blue Heron endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1], and NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide[2]. It is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].
Where do Great Blue Herons live?
NatureServe lists the species as native in 50 US states and territories[3]. It lives around marshes, shallow water, rivers, bays, tidal flats and fields[12][13].
What do Great Blue Herons eat?
Their diet is estimated at about 50% fish, with the rest made up of invertebrates, small warm-blooded animals, reptiles and amphibians[14]. They also eat insects, crustaceans, mice and shrews[15].
How big is a Great Blue Heron?
A typical adult is about 117 cm (46 in) long[16]. A typical adult weighs about 6 lb[17].
How long do Great Blue Herons live?
The oldest known wild Great Blue Heron from US and Canadian banding records was at least 24 years 6 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Great Blue Heron is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Great Blue Heron: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Great Blue Heron as native in 50 US states and territories: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Great Blue Heron from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 24 years 6 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a bird in the family Ardeidae, order Pelecaniformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Great Blue Heron is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Great Blue Heron (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Great Blue Heron: Florida, California, Texas, Ohio, New York. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Great Blue Heron: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Grassland/herbaceous, Old field, Temporary pool, Herbaceous wetland, Forested wetland, Riparian, Low gradient, Shallow water, Bay/sound, River... NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Great Blue Heron. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 50% fish, 30% invertebrates, 10% warm-blooded vertebrates, 10% reptiles and amphibians. EltonTraits 1.0
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Great Blue Heron. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 117 cm (46 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 2.6 kg (6 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Great Blue Heron. NatureServe Explorer
  19. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 24.5 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  20. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 28 days. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 669 days (about 1.8 years). AnAge
  23. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  24. NatureServe migration category for Great Blue Heron: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on phenology for Great Blue Heron. NatureServe Explorer
  26. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Circadian, Diurnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  27. NatureServe notes on migration for Great Blue Heron. NatureServe Explorer
  28. GBIF observation records of Great Blue Heron in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  29. NPSpecies park lists recording Great Blue Heron as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.