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![Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
The Great Blue Heron ranks as the largest of North American herons and egrets. It is also the most widespread heron in North America and can be found along the ocean shore or the edge of a small inland pond. It stands 4 feet tall and has a wingspan of 6 feet. It is readily identified by its massive bill, blue-gray or dark gray plumage, and overall structure.
The Great Blue Heron is found in nearly every sort of habitat other than deserts. They can be seen beside streams, ponds lakes, and road ditches throughout the State of Florida. Their nest is a crude platform of sticks in a bush or tree, usually in a colony with other herons. Along the coast, nests are found on gas wells in shallow bays. They lay 3 to 5large blue eggs and they hatch in 28 days. It takes another 2 months before the young are ready to fly.
The white form of the Great Blue Heron, known as the "Great White Heron," is found nearly exclusively in shallow marine waters along the coast of very southern Florida, the Yucatan Peninsula, and in the Caribbean. Where the dark and white forms overlap in Florida, intermediate birds known as "Wurdemann's herons" can be found. They have the bodies of a Great Blue Heron, but the white head and neck of the great white heron. [D]](http://www.photoscapedesign.com/Places/Florida-2011/Fairchild-Garden/i-H2tMgMH/0/Ti/IMG_9189-Ti.jpg "Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
The Great Blue Heron ranks as the largest of North American herons and egrets. It is also the most widespread heron in North America and can be found along the ocean shore or the edge of a small inland pond. It stands 4 feet tall and has a wingspan of 6 feet. It is readily identified by its massive bill, blue-gray or dark gray plumage, and overall structure.
The Great Blue Heron is found in nearly every sort of habitat other than deserts. They can be seen beside streams, ponds lakes, and road ditches throughout the State of Florida. Their nest is a crude platform of sticks in a bush or tree, usually in a colony with other herons. Along the coast, nests are found on gas wells in shallow bays. They lay 3 to 5large blue eggs and they hatch in 28 days. It takes another 2 months before the young are ready to fly.
The white form of the Great Blue Heron, known as the \"Great White Heron,\" is found nearly exclusively in shallow marine waters along the coast of very southern Florida, the Yucatan Peninsula, and in the Caribbean. Where the dark and white forms overlap in Florida, intermediate birds known as \"Wurdemann's herons\" can be found. They have the bodies of a Great Blue Heron, but the white head and neck of the great white heron. [D]")
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