The great blue heron is the largest heron in N America (approximately 4 ft in height). It breeds throughout North and Central America, the Caribbean and Greater Antilles, and the Galapogos. Some populations migrate to the S. America during the winter months.

The great blue heron fishes in both night and day, with most of its activity around dawn and dusk. The heron uses its long legs to wade in shallow water and its sharp "spearlike" bill to catch its food. The great blue heron's diet consists of fish, frogs, salamanders, lizards, snakes, shrimps, crabs, crayfish, dragonflies, grasshoppers, and many aquatic insects. The great blue heron spends 90% of its active day foraging for food.

The great blue heron typically breeds during the months of March - May in its northern range and November through April in the southern hemisphere. The nest usually consists of an egg clutch between 3-7 eggs, with clutch size increasing from south to north. Chicks fledge at about two months.