Great Blue Heron

By Christopher Minster

Yes, the Great Blue Herons that you’ve seen back home in the USA and Canada are the same as the ones here in Galápagos. The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a large, majestic bird that is relatively common in the United States and Canada, as well as Mexico and the West Indies. They can be found in South America as well. Great Blue Herons living in Canada and the northern United States migrate south to spend the winter, but they can be seen year-round in Galápagos. They are considered a non-endangered species.

The Great Blue Heron is a shore bird, and can often be seen wading in tidal pools looking for small fish. They have also been known to eat reptiles, turtles and even rodents. Great Blue Herons nest in colonies of several nests, occasionally with or near other heron species. They tend to fish alone, however, stalking their prey both during daytime and at night. Males can be identified by the small patch of feathers sticking out of the back of their heads.

In Galapagos, Great Blue Herons can be found anywhere there are small fish in shallow water: look for them in tide pools, mangroves and sandy shores with some tree cover. The tidal pools near Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal) are a good place to look for them. In general, you won’t see any along exposed stretches of beach or inland. If you move slowly, you may be able to get rather close for a good photo.