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Wisconsin's wetlands, rivers, and marshes are home to an impressive diversity of herons - elegant, long-legged wading birds that stealthily stalk their prey. Eight species of herons can be found in the state, ranging from the huge Great Blue Heron that stands over 4 feet tall, to the diminutive 18 inch Green Heron. Some hunt by day while others prefer to feed at night. Their diets are varied but they all employ watchful waiting and lightning fast strikes with their dagger-like bills to snare fish, frogs, insects and other small animals. Whether large or small, rare or common, herons add beauty and interest to Wisconsin's waterways. Read on to learn about the identification, behavior and preferred habitats of the eight most common herons found in the Badger State. Heron Species Size Habitat Great Blue Heron Large - 4 ft tall Marshes, lakes, rivers Great Egret Large - 3 ft tall Marshes, ponds, streams Green Heron Small - 18 in tall Swamps, marshes, ponds Black-crowned Night Heron Medium size Marshes, wetlands Yellow-crowned Night Heron Medium size Coastal wetlands Little Blue Heron Small - 30 in tall Marshes, wetlands Cattle Egret Medium size Fields, marshes Tricolored Heron Small - 28 in tall Coastal wetlands 1. Great Blue Heron The great blue heron (Ardea herodias) is the largest and most widespread heron in North America. With a height of around 4 feet, a wingspan of 6 feet, and a weight of 5-7 pounds, the great blue heron is an imposing and majestic bird. Great blue herons can be identified by their overall grayish-blue plumage, long legs, elongated neck, and dagger-like bill which they use to spear fish and amphibians. Great blue herons inhabit marshes, swamps, lakeshores, and riversides throughout Wisconsin. They nest in colonies called heronries, often high up in trees located near optimal foraging habitat. Heronries can contain just a few nests or up to 500 nests in some large colonies. The large stick nests are reused and expanded each year. Females lay 3-6 pale blue eggs that hatch after about a month. Chicks fledge in about 2 months. Great blue herons are skillful hunters, walking slowly or standing motionless in shallow water waiting to ambush small fish with their bills. They also eat amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, insects, and other small animals. Herons hunt both day and night. They frequent the same feeding areas regularly. In Wisconsin, great blue herons are found statewide. Some of the best places to observe them include Horicon Marsh, Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. 2. Great Egret The great egret (Ardea alba) is a large, elegant, entirely white heron that can stand over 3 feet tall. Sometimes confused with immature great blue herons, the great egret can be distinguished by its glistening white plumage, black legs with bright yellow feet, and all-yellow bill. The area around the eye is greenish. During breeding season, the great egret develops two ribbon-like decorative plumes on the back that once were prized decorations for women's hats. Great egrets inhabit marshes, ponds, streams, estuaries, and wetlands where they wade patiently to find fish, amphibians, reptiles, insects, small mammals and other prey. They usually nest in colonies with other wading birds such as herons, egrets, ibis, and spoonbills. The nest is a platform of sticks placed high in trees or shrubs near water. Males gather the nesting material while females do most of the construction. Females lay 3-5 eggs which incubate for about 3 weeks. Great egrets can be found across southern Wisconsin from about March to October, though they are still uncommon. They migrate south for the winter. Originally called "common egrets", great egrets were hunted almost to extinction in the late 19th century for their plumage. With protection, their numbers have rebounded though they still face threats like habitat loss and high levels of contaminants. 3. Green Heron The green heron (Butorides virescens) is a small, stocky heron that reaches a height of about 18 inches, with a wingspan of around 25 inches. As its name suggests, green herons have mostly greenish feathers on the head, neck, and body, with a dark cap and chestnut accents. The neck is shortened compared to other herons and they have a thick, short bill. Green herons are found in Wisconsin from April to October in wet, sheltered areas near water - swamps, marshes, ponds, streams, and shores. They perch patiently on branches overhanging the water and drop down to grab small fish, frogs, insects, crustaceans, and other small animals. They sometimes lure prey by using small items as bait. Green herons are solitary nesters, with females laying 3-5 eggs in a nest made of sticks lined with vegetation. These herons are common across Wisconsin. They are seen singly or in pairs slowly stalking prey at the water's edge, often squirting water over their feathers or flicking their wings to startle and attract small fish. Green herons sometimes let people approach closely before flushing from their perch. 4. Black-crowned Night Heron The black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is a medium-sized heron that is active at night or during dusk and dawn. They have white undersides and grayish-black topsides with bold white streaks on the head. As the name suggests, adults have a prominent black crown and back. The thick bill is black. Legs are yellowish. Black-crowned night herons nest in colonies containing a dozen to hundreds of breeding pairs. Colonies are usually located over or near water in thick wetland vegetation that helps hide the herons. Females lay 3-5 eggs and both parents incubate them for around 3 weeks. Chicks fledge in 6-7 weeks. This species rarely uses the same nesting site in consecutive years. These herons are seen across Wisconsin in the summer months. They roost by day and feed actively at night on crustaceans, amphibians, small fish, insects, and sometimes small mammals and birds. At night, black-crowned night herons sometimes hunt together to herd schools of small fish against obstructions. During the day, look for them roosting in trees along shorelines with their head tucked in. 5. Yellow-crowned Night Heron The yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is a medium-sized coastal and inland wetland bird that gets its name from the white plumes on the crown of adult heads. Adults have gray and black upperparts with a bold black and white spotted underside. The thick bill is black. Legs are yellowish. These herons are migratory, spending winters in the Gulf Coast and Mexico. In late spring they return to Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest to nest in wetland trees and bushes, often with other wading birds. Females lay 3-5 eggs which hatch in about 3 weeks. Adults feed the chicks regurgitated food. Young fledge in 6-7 weeks. Yellow-crowned night herons are most active hunting just after sunset or before sunrise. They use their strong bills to capture fish, amphibians, crabs, crayfish, insects, snails, small mammals and other prey. Look for them perched prominently during the day or flying on broad, rounded wings at dawn and dusk near wetland habitats in southern and eastern Wisconsin. 6. Little Blue Heron The little blue heron (Egretta caerulea) is a small elegant heron that reaches heights of around 30 inches, with a wingspan of about 41 inches. Adults have a purple-maroon body and head, with a slate-gray neck, wings, and belly. The thick straight bill is bluish-black. Legs and feet are greenish. Immature little blue herons are all white with dark wing tips. Little blue herons inhabit freshwater and brackish marshes, ponds, tidal flats and other wetlands. They feed on small fish, shrimp, crabs, frogs, lizards, snakes, and insects. They are patient hunters, standing motionless or wading slowly before spearing prey with their bill. Little blue herons nest in small colonies, often with other wading birds. In Wisconsin, little blue herons are rare summer residents, found mainly from May to September in the southern and eastern counties. They migrate to coastal areas from the Carolinas southward for winter. The best locations in Wisconsin to see this species are Crex Meadows and Horicon Marsh. 7. Cattle Egret The cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a medium-sized all white heron with yellow eyes, bill and legs. The bill is thinner and more delicate than other heron species. Breeding adults have orange-buff plumes on the head, neck, and back. Cattle egrets get their name because they are often seen following grazing livestock, feeding on insects stirred up from the grass. Originally from Africa, cattle egrets arrived in South America in the late 1800s and then expanded their range rapidly up through North America. They were first reported in Wisconsin in 1962 and are now found across the southern part of the state from April to October. Cattle egrets nest in colonies near water, often in trees and shrubs mixed with other wading birds. The female lays 3-5 eggs which hatch in around 21 days, with the young fledging in another 3-4 weeks. Like other herons, they feed mainly on small animals including amphibians, fish, rodents, birds, insects, spiders, and worms. Look for cattle egrets in grassy fields, marshes, flooded lawns, or openings near water across southern Wisconsin. They are social birds, usually seen singly or in groups of up to 100 birds as they follow grazing animals or tractors to feed on disturbed insects. 8. Tricolored Heron The tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor) is a sleek, slender heron about 28 inches in height with narrow wings and an elongated, pointed bill. As their name indicates, they exhibit three main colors: dark slate blue on the head and upper back; a rich rufous neck and underparts; and white on the lower belly. The bill is black and legs are yellowish. Preferring coastal habitats, tricolored herons are rare summer visitors to Wisconsin's inland lakes and wetlands from May to August. They nest in colonies over water in shrubs and trees, often with other wading birds. Females lay 3-5 eggs which hatch in about 3 weeks, with chicks fledging in another 4-5 weeks. Tricolored herons walk slowly through shallow water searching for small fish, frogs, salamanders, crustaceans, insects, lizards, and worms. They remain motionless for long periods before spearing prey with their bills in a lightning fast stab. Excellent places to spot them in Wisconsin are Crex Meadows Wildlife Area and the Lower Wisconsin Riverway.

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