National Marine Conservation Areas of Canada

Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas System Plan

Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)

The great blue heron is a familiar sight along most shores, either in fresh or salt water. A solitary hunter, it stands motionless in shallow water waiting for prey to come within reach. It feeds primarily on fish which it spears with a lightning-like strike of its bill, but will also take frogs, salamanders, crabs, crayfish and insects.The great blue heron is found across much of southern Canada, from the Maritimes to Alberta and along coastal British Columbia.