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Avesbirds
Identification
Ardea herodias (great blue heron)
Caption
Heron track with 6-inch ruler for size comparison. Notice how the three forward toes are not in alignment. This is the left foot. The two outer toes (on the left in the picture) stick out at a slightly offset angle. The two inner toes are in line, as they would be expected to look. This arrangement of the toes may give the heron greater stability when it is walking in the deep mud and water it often hunts in.
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- Photo
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- Tracks
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- Sign
Contributors
Kim Cabrera (photographer; copyright holder; identification)
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Classification
- Kingdom Animalia animals
- Phylum Chordata chordates
- Subphylum Vertebrata vertebrates
- Class Reptilia turtles, snakes, lizards, and relatives
- Class Aves birds
Related Taxa
- Species Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris eastern spinebill
- Family Accipitridae eagles, hawks, and kites
- Species Acridotheres tristis common myna
- Species Acrocephalus arundinaceus great reed warbler
- Species Actitis hypoleucos common sandpiper
- Species Actitis macularius spotted sandpiper
- Species Aegithalos caudatus long-tailed tit
- Species Aethia cristatella crested auklet
- Species Aethia pusilla least auklet
- Species Agapornis fischeri Fischer's lovebird
- Species Agapornis roseicollis rosy-faced lovebird
- Species Agelaioides badius bay-winged cowbird
- Species Agelaius phoeniceus red-winged blackbird
- Species Agelaius tricolor tricolored blackbird
- Species Ailuroedus crassirostris green catbird
- Species Ajaia ajaja roseate spoonbill
- Family Alaudidae larks
- Species Alca torda razorbill
- Family Alcedinidae kingfishers
- Species Alethe choloensis cholo alethe
- Species Alle alle dovekie
- Species Amandava amandava red avadavat
- Species Amazona aestiva blue-fronted parrot
- Species Amazona autumnalis red-lored parrot
- Species Amazona farinosa mealy parrot
- Species Amazona imperialis imperial amazon
- Species Amazona leucocephala Cuban parrot
- Species Amazona ochrocephala yellow-crowned parrot
- Species Amazona vittata cinnamon-sided hummingbird
- Species Amblycercus holosericeus yellow-billed cacique
- Species Amblyornis macgregoriae MacGregor's bowerbird
- Species Anastomus oscitans Asian openbill
- Species Andigena hypoglauca grey-breasted mountain toucan
- Species Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus hyacinth macaw
- Species Anous minutus black noddy
- Order Anseriformes ducks, geese, swans, and relatives
- Species Anthropoides virgo demoiselle crane
- Species Aphelocoma coerulescens Florida scrub jay
- Species Aphelocoma ultramarina grey-breasted jay
- Family Apodidae swifts
- Species Apteryx australis brown kiwi
- Species Apteryx haastii great spotted kiwi
- Species Apteryx owenii little spotted kiwi
- Species Ara ararauna blue-and-yellow macaw
- Species Ara glaucogularis blue-throated macaw
- Species Ara macao scarlet macaw
- Species Ara rubrogenys red-fronted macaw
- Species Aramides cajanea grey-necked wood rail
- Species Aramus guarauna limpkin
- Species Aratinga nana olive-throated parakeet
- Species Aratinga pertinax brown-throated parakeet
- Species Aratinga solstitialis sun parakeet
- Species Ardea alba great egret
- Species Ardea cinerea grey heron
- Species Ardea goliath goliath heron
- Species Ardea herodias great blue heron
- Species Ardeotis kori Kori bustard
- Species Arenaria interpres ruddy turnstone
- Species Aulacorhynchus prasinus emerald toucanet
- Species Auriparus flaviceps verdin
- Species Balaeniceps rex shoebill
- Species Balearica regulorum grey crowned crane
- Species Basileuterus rufifrons rufous-capped warbler
- Species Bombycilla cedrorum cedar waxwing
- Species Bombycilla garrulus Bohemian waxwing
- Species Botaurus lentiginosus American bittern
- Species Brachyramphus marmoratus marbled murrelet
- Species Bubulcus ibis cattle egret
- Species Buceros bicornis great hornbill
- Species Bucorvus abyssinicus northern ground hornbill
- Species Bucorvus leadbeateri southern ground hornbill
- Species Bugeranus carunculatus wattled crane
- Species Butorides sundevalli Galapagos heron
- Species Butorides virescens green heron
- Species Bycanistes subcylindricus grey-cheeked hornbill
- Species Cacatua alba white cockatoo
- Species Cacatua galerita sulphur-crested cockatoo
- Species Cacatua leadbeateri Major Mitchell's cockatoo
- Species Cacicus cela yellow-rumped cacique
- Species Calidris alba sanderling
- Subspecies Calidris canutus rufa
- Species Calidris maritima purple sandpiper
- Species Calidris pusilla semipalmated sandpiper
- Species Callaeas cinereus kokako
- Species Calocitta formosa white-throated magpie-jay
- Species Campephilus principalis ivory-billed woodpecker
- Species Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus cactus wren
- Species Caprimulgus carolinensis Chuck-will's widow
- Species Caprimulgus europaeus Eurasian nightjar
- Species Caprimulgus vociferus whip-poor-will
- Species Cardinalis cardinalis northern cardinal
- Species Cardinalis sinuatus pyrrhuloxia
- Species Carduelis tristis American goldfinch
- Species Carpodacus mexicanus house finch
- Species Carpodacus purpureus purple finch
- Family Casuariidae cassowaries
- Species Cathartes aura turkey vulture
- Species Catharus guttatus hermit thrush
- Species Catharus minimus grey-cheeked thrush
- Species Catherpes mexicanus canyon wren
- Species Catoptrophorus semipalmatus willet
- Species Cepphus grylle black guillemot
- Species Certhia americana brown creeper
- Species Certhia familiaris Eurasian tree-creeper
- Species Charadrius alexandrinus Kentish plover
- Species Charadrius melodus piping plover
- Species Charadrius pecuarius Kittlitz's plover
- Species Charadrius semipalmatus semipalmated plover
- Species Charadrius vociferus killdeer
- Species Chlidonias niger black tern
- Species Chordeiles acutipennis lesser nighthawk
- Species Chordeiles minor common nighthawk
- Species Ciconia ciconia European white stork
- Species Ciconia nigra black stork
- Species Cinclus cinclus white-throated dipper
- Species Cinclus mexicanus American dipper
- Species Cistothorus palustris marsh wren
- Species Cistothorus platensis sedge wren
- Species Clamator glandarius great spotted cuckoo
- Species Coccyzus americanus yellow-billed cuckoo
- Species Coccyzus erythropthalmus black-billed cuckoo
- Species Coereba flaveola bananaquit
- Species Colaptes auratus northern flicker
- Family Columbidae doves and pigeons
- Species Contopus sordidulus western wood pewee
- Species Conuropsis carolinensis Carolina parakeet
- Species Coracias cyanogaster blue-bellied roller
- Species Coragyps atratus black vulture
- Species Corvus brachyrhynchos American crow
- Species Corvus caurinus north-western crow
- Species Corvus corax common raven
- Species Corvus frugilegus rook
- Species Coturnicops noveboracensis yellow rail
- Species Cuculus canorus common cuckoo
- Species Cyanocitta cristata blue jay
- Species Cyanocitta stelleri Steller's jay
- Species Cyanocorax yncas green jay
- Species Cyanolyca cucullata azure-hooded jay
- Species Cyanopsitta spixii little blue macaw
- Family Dendrocolaptidae woodcreepers
- Species Dendrocopos leucotos white-backed woodpecker
- Species Dendroica caerulescens black-throated blue warbler
- Species Dendroica cerulea cerulean warbler
- Species Dendroica chrysoparia golden-cheeked warbler
- Species Dendroica coronata yellow-rumped warbler
- Species Dendroica fusca Blackburnian warbler
- Species Dendroica kirtlandii Kirtland's warbler
- Species Dendroica magnolia magnolia warbler
- Species Dendroica palmarum palm warbler
- Species Dendroica pensylvanica chestnut-sided warbler
- Species Dendroica petechia yellow warbler
- Species Dendroica pinus pine warbler
- Species Dendroica virens black-throated green warbler
- Species Dicrurus paradiseus greater racket-tailed drongo
- Species Diomedea epomophora royal albatross
- Species Diomedea exulans wandering albatross
- Species Diphyllodes magnificus magnificent bird-of-paradise
- Species Dromaius novaehollandiae emu
- Species Dryocopus pileatus pileated woodpecker
- Species Dumetella carolinensis gray catbird
- Species Egretta caerulea little blue heron
- Species Egretta thula snowy egret
- Species Egretta tricolor tricolored heron
- Family Emberizidae buntings, American sparrows, and relatives
- Species Empidonax difficilis Pacific-slope flycatcher
- Species Empidonax flaviventris yellow-bellied flycatcher
- Species Empidonax hammondii Hammond's flycatcher
- Species Empidonax virescens Acadian flycatcher
- Species Estrilda astrild common waxbill
- Species Eudocimus albus white ibis
- Species Eudocimus ruber scarlet ibis
- Species Eumomota superciliosa turquoise-browed motmot
- Family Eurylaimidae broadbills
- Family Falconidae falcons
- Species Ficedula hypoleuca European pied flycatcher
- Species Fratercula arctica Atlantic puffin
- Species Fratercula cirrhata tufted puffin
- Species Fratercula corniculata horned puffin
- Species Fulica americana American coot
- Species Fulmarus glacialis northern fulmar
- Family Furnariidae ovenbirds
- Order Galliformes chicken-like birds
- Species Gallinago gallinago common snipe
- Species Gallinula chloropus common moorhen
- Species Garrulus glandarius Eurasian jay
- Species Gavia adamsii white-billed diver;yellow-billed diver
- Species Gavia arctica arctic loon
- Species Gavia immer common loon
- Species Gavia pacifica Pacific loon
- Species Gavia stellata red-throated diver
- Family Genera Incertae Sedis (12:69) tanagers, euphonias, chlorophonias, and relatives
- Species Geococcyx californianus greater roadrunner
- Species Geothlypis trichas common yellowthroat
- Species Gracula religiosa hill myna
- Species Grus americana whooping crane
- Species Grus canadensis sandhill crane
- Species Grus japonensis red-crowned crane
- Species Grus leucogeranus Siberian crane
- Species Gymnogyps californianus California condor
- Family Hemiprocnidae crested swifts
- Species Hirundo rustica barn swallow
- Species Hylocichla mustelina wood thrush
- Species Icterus abeillei Abeille's orioles
- Species Icterus auratus orange oriole
- Species Icterus bullockii Bullock's oriole
- Species Icterus cayanensis epaulet oriole
- Species Icterus chrysater yellow-backed oriole
- Species Icterus cucullatus hooded oriole
- Species Icterus galbula Baltimore oriole
- Species Icterus graduacauda Audubon's oriole
- Species Icterus gularis Altamira oriole
- Species Icterus icterus troupial
- Species Icterus jamacaii Campo troupial
- Species Icterus mesomelas yellow-tailed oriole
- Species Icterus oberi Montserrat oriole
- Species Icterus parisorum Scott's oriole
- Species Icterus portoricensis Puerto Rican oriole
- Species Icterus prosthemelas black-cowled oriole
- Species Icterus pustulatus streak-backed oriole
- Species Icterus spurius orchard oriole
- Species Indicator indicator greater honeyguide
- Species Ixoreus naevius varied thrush
- Species Jabiru mycteria jabiru
- Species Jacana spinosa northern jacana
- Species Lanius ludovicianus loggerhead shrike
- Species Larus argentatus herring gull
- Species Larus atricilla laughing gull
- Species Larus californicus California gull
- Species Larus canus mew gull
- Species Larus delawarensis ring-billed gull
- Species Larus glaucescens glaucous-winged gull
- Species Larus philadelphia Bonaparte's gull
- Species Larus pipixcan Franklin's gull
- Species Larus ridibundus black-headed gull
- Species Laterallus ruber ruddy crake
- Species Legatus leucophaius piratic flycatcher
- Species Leptoptilos crumeniferus marabou
- Species Leptoptilos dubius greater adjutant
- Species Limosa fedoa marbled godwit
- Species Loxia curvirostra red crossbill
- Species Loxops coccineus akepa
- Species Luscinia megarhynchos common nightingale
- Species Melanerpes carolinus red-bellied woodpecker
- Species Melanerpes erythrocephalus red-headed woodpecker
- Species Melanerpes formicivorus acorn woodpecker
- Species Melanerpes lewis Lewis's woodpecker
- Species Melopsittacus undulatus budgerigar
- Species Merops apiaster European bee-eater
- Species Merops ornatus rainbow bee-eater
- Species Microcerculus philomela nightingale wren
- Species Mimus polyglottos northern mockingbird
- Species Mionectes oleagineus ochre-bellied flycatcher
- Species Mniotilta varia black-and-white warbler
- Species Molothrus ater brown-headed cowbird
- Species Momotus momota blue-crowned motmot
- Species Monias benschi subdesert mesite
- Family Motacillidae pipits and wagtails
- Species Mycteria americana wood stork
- Species Mycteria leucocephala painted stork
- Species Myiarchus crinitus great crested flycatcher
- Species Myiopsitta monachus monk parakeet
- Species Neochmia ruficauda star finch
- Species Neopsephotus bourkii Bourke's parrot
- Species Nesofregetta fuliginosa Polynesian storm petrel
- Species Nestor notabilis kea
- Species Nipponia nippon crested ibis
- Species Nucifraga columbiana Clark's nutcracker
- Species Nyctibius grandis great potoo
- Species Nycticorax nycticorax black-crowned night heron
- Species Nymphicus hollandicus cockatiel
- Species Opisthocomus hoazin hoatzin
- Species Oporornis tolmiei MacGillivray's warbler
- Species Ortyxelos meiffrenii lark buttonquail
- Species Pachyornis mappini Mappin's moas
- Species Parula americana northern parula
- Species Parus atricapillus black-capped chickadee
- Species Parus bicolor tufted titmouse
- Species Parus carolinensis Carolina chickadee
- Species Parus gambeli mountain chickadee
- Species Parus rufescens chestnut-backed chickadee
- Family Passeridae Old World sparrows
- Species Passerina ciris painted bunting
- Species Passerina cyanea indigo bunting
- Order Pelecaniformes pelicans, tropicbirds, cormorants, and relatives
- Family Pelecanoididae diving petrels
- Species Perisoreus canadensis gray jay
- Species Phainopepla nitens phainopepla
- Species Phalaenoptilus nuttallii common poorwill
- Species Phalaropus lobatus northern phalarope
- Species Pharomachrus antisianus crested quetzal
- Species Pharomachrus auriceps golden-headed quetzal
- Species Pharomachrus mocinno resplendent quetzal
- Species Pheucticus ludovicianus rose-breasted grosbeak
- Species Pheucticus melanocephalus black-headed grosbeak
- Family Philepittidae asities
- Species Phoebastria immutabilis Laysan albatross
- Species Phoebastria nigripes black-footed albatross
- Species Phoebetria palpebrata light-mantled albatross
- Species Phoenicoparrus andinus Andean flamingo
- Species Phoenicoparrus jamesi James's flamingo
- Species Phoenicopterus chilensis Chilean flamingo
- Species Phoenicopterus ruber American flamingo
- Species Pica hudsonia black-billed magpie
- Species Picoides arcticus black-backed woodpecker
- Species Picoides borealis red-cockaded woodpecker
- Species Picoides pubescens downy woodpecker
- Species Picoides scalaris ladder-backed woodpecker
- Species Picoides villosus hairy woodpecker
- Species Pinguinus impennis great auk
- Species Pitangus sulphuratus great kiskadee
- Family Pittidae pittas
- Species Plegadis chihi white-faced ibis
- Species Pluvialis dominica American golden plover
- Order Podicipediformes grebes
- Species Poicephalus senegalus Senegal parrot
- Species Polioptila caerulea blue-grey gnatcatcher
- Species Polioptila melanura black-tailed gnatcatcher
- Species Polytelis alexandrae Alexandra's parrot
- Species Porphyrio hochstetteri southern takahe
- Species Porphyrio porphyrio purple swamphen
- Species Porzana carolina sora
- Species Probosciger aterrimus palm cockatoo
- Species Procnias tricarunculatus three-wattled bellbird
- Species Progne dominicensis Caribbean martin
- Species Progne subis purple martin
- Species Protonotaria citrea prothonotary warbler
- Species Psaltriparus minimus bushtit
- Species Psarocolius montezuma Montezuma oropendola
- Species Psittacus erithacus grey parrot
- Species Pteridophora alberti King of Saxony bird-of-paradise
- Species Pterodroma arminjoniana herald petrel
- Species Pteroglossus torquatus collared aracari
- Species Puffinus auricularis Townsend's shearwater
- Species Puffinus gravis great shearwater
- Species Pyrocephalus rubinus vermilion flycatcher
- Species Pyrrhula pyrrhula Eurasian bullfinch
- Species Quiscalus mexicanus great-tailed grackle
- Species Quiscalus quiscula common grackle
- Species Rallus elegans king rail
- Species Rallus limicola Virginia rail
- Species Ramphastos sulfuratus keel-billed toucan
- Species Ramphastos swainsonii chestnut-mandibled toucan
- Species Ramphastos toco Toco toucan
- Species Raphus cucullatus dodo
- Species Recurvirostra americana American avocet
- Family Rheidae rheas
- Species Riparia riparia bank swallow
- Species Rissa tridactyla black-legged kittiwake
- Species Rynchops niger black skimmer
- Species Sarcoramphus papa king vulture
- Species Sayornis phoebe eastern phoebe
- Species Scolopax minor American woodcock
- Species Seiurus aurocapilla ovenbird
- Species Seiurus noveboracensis northern waterthrush
- Species Sericulus chrysocephalus Regent bowerbird
- Species Serinus mozambicus yellow-fronted canary
- Species Setophaga ruticilla American redstart
- Species Sialia mexicana western bluebird
- Species Sialia sialis eastern bluebird
- Species Sitta canadensis red-breasted nuthatch
- Species Sitta carolinensis white-breasted nuthatch
- Species Sitta pygmaea pygmy nuthatch
- Order Sphenisciformes penguins
- Species Sphyrapicus varius yellow-bellied sapsucker
- Species Stagonopleura guttata diamond firetail
- Species Stercorarius longicaudus long-tailed jaeger
- Species Stercorarius parasiticus Arctic jaeger
- Species Sterna caspia Caspian tern
- Species Sterna forsteri Forster's tern
- Species Sterna hirundo common tern
- Species Sterna paradisaea Arctic tern
- Species Sterna sandvicensis Sandwich tern
- Order Strigiformes owls
- Species Strigops habroptila kakapo
- Species Struthidea cinerea apostlebird
- Species Struthio camelus ostrich
- Species Sturnella loyca long-tailed meadowlark
- Species Sturnella magna eastern meadowlark
- Species Sturnus vulgaris common starling
- Species Swynnertonia swynnertoni Swynnerton's robin
- Species Tachycineta bicolor tree swallow
- Species Taeniopygia guttata zebra finch
- Species Tapera naevia striped cuckoo
- Species Thalassarche melanophrys black-browed albatross
- Species Threskiornis aethiopicus sacred ibis
- Species Thryothorus ludovicianus Carolina wren
- Order Tinamiformes tinamous
- Species Toxostoma curvirostre curve-billed thrasher
- Species Toxostoma rufum brown thrasher
- Species Tringa flavipes lesser yellowlegs
- Species Tringa melanoleuca greater yellowlegs
- Family Trochilidae hummingbirds
- Species Troglodytes aedon house wren
- Species Troglodytes troglodytes winter wren
- Species Turdus migratorius American robin
- Species Turnix hottentottus black-rumped buttonquail
- Species Turnix nigricollis Madagascan buttonquail
- Species Turnix ocellatus spotted buttonquail
- Species Turnix suscitator barred buttonquail
- Species Turnix sylvaticus common buttonquail
- Species Turnix tanki yellow-legged buttonquail
- Species Turnix varius painted buttonquail
- Species Tyrannus couchii Couch's kingbird
- Species Tyrannus forficatus scissor-tailed flycatcher
- Species Tyrannus melancholicus tropical kingbird
- Species Tyrannus tyrannus eastern kingbird
- Species Uria aalge common murre
- Species Uria lomvia thick-billed murre
- Species Vanellus coronatus crowned lapwing
- Species Vermivora luciae Lucy's warbler
- Species Vermivora peregrina Tennessee warbler
- Species Vireo atricapilla black-capped vireo
- Species Vireo gilvus eastern warbling-vireo
- Species Vireo griseus white-eyed vireo
- Species Vireo olivaceus red-eyed vireo
- Species Vireo philadelphicus Philadelphia vireo
- Species Vultur gryphus Andean condor
- Species Wilsonia canadensis Canada warbler
- Species Wilsonia citrina hooded warbler
- Species Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus yellow-headed blackbird
- Species Zosterops pallidus Cape white-eye
To cite this page: Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2013. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed at http://animaldiversity.org.
Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.
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