Cute Big Cranky

Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron is our 227th cute Birdorable and the answer to yesterday's Spot the Birdorable. If you live in North America you've probably seen these around near water as they are quite common. It has several nicknames, including Big Cranky, Blue Crane, Long John and Poor Joe. Did you know that all Herons have two or more patches of powder-down feathers on their breasts? The feathers break up into a fine power when crushed. The birds apply this powder to areas of blood, mud or slime to absorb the mess. Once it has clumped up they can just scrape it off with their feet. They also sprinkle the powder on fish that they just caught to more easily clean off the slime and oil before eating it.

Twilight
Photo by Gary Woodburn (via Flickr)

If you like this bird see our other egrets and waders. We've also added the grey equivalent of this bird: the Grey Heron, which can be found across temperate Europe, Asia and parts of Africa.

Comments

Canaduck on January 29, 2010 at 9:37 PM wrote:
That is SO cute. I've never heard GBH's being called "Big Cranky" before, but the name fits, to be sure!
Kim B. on June 9, 2011 at 2:32 PM wrote:
I love GBH. Which reminds me that I need to go over the the heronry/rookery and check out the babies.
molly on October 1, 2011 at 1:49 AM wrote:
awwwwwwwww its soooo cute
Spurwing Plover on April 12, 2020 at 5:02 AM wrote:
I have seen Great Blue Herons my Grandma called them Icabods
Reed on May 14, 2020 at 1:10 PM wrote:
I see alot of GBHS at falls lake which is the lake near my house

Leave a comment

Comments with links or HTML will be deleted. Your comment will be published pending approval.
Your email address will not be published
You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information on how to unsubscribe, our privacy practices, and how we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy. By clicking submit below, you consent to allow Birdorable to store and process the personal information submitted above to provide you the content requested.

Fascinating Facts About Avocets & Stilts

Among the ten total global species of avocets and stilts, wading birds that are members of the Recurvirostridae family, there are a lot of interesting information and fascinating facts. Following our Amazing Adaptations post, here are some more facts about these long-legged birds.

Baby Birdorable: Western Grebe

If you think our Birdorable birds are cute as adults, what about when they are babies? Below are some baby photos (shared via Flickr Creative Commons) of the Western Grebe. The male and female in a mated Western Grebe pair build the nest together. The nest is built...

2020 Bonanza Bird #12: Pink-headed Fruit Dove

Today’s new addition to Birdorable is a colorful species in the dove family. The Pink-headed Fruit Dove joins our Birdorable Pigeons and Doves! Pink-headed Fruit Doves are easily recognized by their pinkish purple heads and green backs. Their breasts have a spiffy...

Website Relaunch

Welcome to our completely renewed website! As you can see it looks quite a bit different from before and we've added some new features as well, which are listed below. We hope you like the new look! Let us know in the comments below or via our