Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

The largest heron found in North America, this bird has a striking presence, with a dark stripe above the eye and a gray-blue body that becomes lighter along the neck. Some of the feathers on its wings and lower chest are long and skinny, giving it a bristly appearance. During high tide when the water becomes too deep for wading, look for this bird perched on the lower branches of trees near the shore.