Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias Linnaeus, 1758

Ardeidae — Herons, Bitterns

Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, is a heron of North America and Middle America, with a breeding range that is widespread across both regions. It is a bird of shores, open water and wetlands, and it is also recorded from north-western South America, the Caribbean and the Galápagos Islands. The South Florida and Florida Keys form has all-white plumage and is known as the great white heron. That white form has been treated in different ways, including as a colour form, a subspecies, or a separate species. Linnaeus described the species in 1758.

Order
Pelecaniformes
Family
Ardeidae — Herons, Bitterns
Breeding range
North America, Middle America: widespread
Great Blue Heron
© Paul Danese · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

10 tours in Canada

Montreal Region Private Birding Day Trip with Sheldon Harvey
Montreal Region Private Birding Day Trip with Sheldon Harvey
Canada / Montreal Private tour 1 day

A flexible private birding day around Montreal-area parks, shorelines and seasonal hot-spots with local birder Sheldon Harvey....

 Greenwater Lake Birding Tour – 3 great days in warbler heaven
Greenwater Lake Birding Tour – 3 great days in warbler heaven
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3 days

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From CAD 1,290
Van Scoy Lakes Birding Tour – 6 hours with fascinating woodland and water birds
Van Scoy Lakes Birding Tour – 6 hours with fascinating woodland and water birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 6h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From CAD 490
Best Birding Hotspots of SE Saskatchewan Tour from Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw or Weyburn, Canada: 2027
Best Birding Hotspots of SE Saskatchewan Tour from Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw or Weyburn, Canada: 2027
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 4 days

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From CAD 1,490
Quill Lakes Birding Tour from Saskatoon, Moose Jaw or Regina – 2 great options for finding birds at Canada’s largest saline lake
Quill Lakes Birding Tour from Saskatoon, Moose Jaw or Regina – 2 great options for finding birds at Canada’s largest saline lake
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3 days

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From CAD 890
Great Sand Hills Birdwatching Tour from Saskatoon, Kindersley or Leader – 3 new options
Great Sand Hills Birdwatching Tour from Saskatoon, Kindersley or Leader – 3 new options
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3 days

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From CAD 1,490
Ferry Birding Tour – 4 hours with awesome river birds
Ferry Birding Tour – 4 hours with awesome river birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 4h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From CAD 290
Eagle Creek and Eagle Hills Birding Tour – 8 hours with fascinating woodland and water birds
Eagle Creek and Eagle Hills Birding Tour – 8 hours with fascinating woodland and water birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 8h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From CAD 590
Gardiner Dam – Anerley Lakes Birding Tour – 6 great hours with fascinating woodland and water birds
Gardiner Dam – Anerley Lakes Birding Tour – 6 great hours with fascinating woodland and water birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 6h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From CAD 390
Best Birding Hotspots of Souris River 2026 Tour from Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw or Weyburn, Canada
Best Birding Hotspots of Souris River 2026 Tour from Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw or Weyburn, Canada
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3 days

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From CAD 1,990