GREAT BLUE HERON 
194. Ardea herodias. 48 in. 
Adult Blue Herons are very handsome birds, as may 
be seen in the illustration. Young birds, and nine out 
of ten that we see will be young birds, are much duller 
colored and have no plumes. It takes several years 
for them to attain their perfect plumage. Their nests 
are placed in the tops of the tallest trees and are, con- 
sequently, difficult to get at. In some heronries, trees 
have been found containing as many as 40 nests. In 
flight, herons always carry “their head drawn in against 
the shoulders, the “neck being curved below. 
Nest.—A platform of sticks in tall trees in wet woods. 
3 or 4 pale greenish-blue eggs (2.50 x 1.50); May, June. 
Range.—Breeds locally throughout the United States 
and Canada, either in colonies, or single pairs where 
they are persecuted as in New England; winters in 
Southern U. S. 149b. Ward Heron (A. h. wardi) is 
similar but lighter below and the neck is darker and 
browner; it abounds in Florida. 
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