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Great White Heron

The Great White Heron, Ardea herodias occidentalis, is a wading bird that can only be found in South Florida and The Florida Keys. It is the largest heron. Whether the Great White Heron is a color morph, a subspecies of the Great Blue Heron, or a new species is a topic that is still being researched. However, it has been commonly accepted that this Florida native bird is a subspecies of the Great Blue Heron. Both birds share similar characteristics. The Great White Heron is a larger bird with solid white feathers and yellow legs, while the Great Blue Heron is a smaller bird with blue-gray feathers and black legs. Great White Herons can be distinguished from the Great White Egrets by their larger size, yellow legs vs black legs of the Great White Egret, thicker bills, and coiled neck when flying.
The nesting habitat of the Great White Heron is primarily located in the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge and Key West National Wildlife Refuge. About 800–1,300 pairs of Great White Herons breed in the mangrove islands, shoals, and mudflats of Florida Bay and the Florida Keys. Breeding rarely takes place on the mainland of Florida. Nesting occurs throughout the year and peaks between December to February.
Great White Herons forage in turtle grass beds. The tidal cycle limits their access to food because they can only reach it at low tide. The Great White Heron’s habitat has also been negatively impacted by boat traffic through these seagrass beds. Because they inhabit a small geographic area, pollution of their home range and habitat loss caused by human activities, as well as climate change contribute to the ongoing threats to Great White Herons.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
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Glossy Ibis

The Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus, is a native wading bird found year-round in Florida. Look for them in freshwater and saltwater marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, mangroves, and flooded fields. Ibises wade in shallow water where they probe the mud for prey with their long beaks or snatch insects from the water’s surface. Food consists of dragonflies, crayfish, snails, crabs, fish, frogs, lizards, snakes, and more.
Glossy Ibises nest in colonies low in willows and other shrubs, on the ground, or in trees and shrubs near marshes or mangroves. The couple builds the nest and the female lays 3 – 4 eggs. The parents feed the young by regurgitation.
From a distance, Glossy Ibises appear dark. The sunlight will bring out the bronze, metallic green, and purple shades in the plumage.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon and Andy Waldo
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Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Herons, Ardea herodias, are one of the most recognizable birds in Florida. The heron’s height and beautiful blue-gray plumage are hard to miss. They can reach 54 inches from head to tail, have a wingspan up to 75 inches, but weigh a mere 5-6 pounds.

You will most often find a Great Blue Heron standing alone at the water’s edge in saltwater or freshwater habitats. Fish, turtles, frogs, insects, birds, and rodents that pass within the area of the heron’s long neck are quickly snatched up by its powerful, long beak. Herons will also forage in fields or grasslands for frogs, birds, and small rodents.

During the breeding season, Great Blue Herons and their mates become part of a breeding colony that can include hundreds of pairs. Breeding colonies of Great Blue Herons are most often found in trees that are within 2-4 miles of their feeding areas. They may also be seen in mangroves, bushes, or on the ground. Males court females who lay 2-6 eggs. The couple shares the responsibility of incubating the eggs for up to a month and feeding the hatchlings for up to 3 months.

While Great Blue Heron’s remain mostly monogamous and enjoy the protection of the colony during the breeding season, for the rest of the year, they are solitary birds and will aggressively defend their feeding territory.

Photo Credit: Dan Kon and Andy Waldo

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