Extremely tall, gray-blue heron that is often mistaken for a "crane" by non-birders. Adult: gray and white face, pale yellow eye, broad dark stripes border the white crown, black plumes and white crown stripe extending to thick yellowish bill. Long, gray neck with white and black streaking on the foreneck. Shaggy feathers at base of neck. Upper body gray-blue with dark shoulders. Black belly with reddish feathers above long, pale gray legs. In flight, look for coiled neck (cranes fly with necks outstretched) and darker flight feathers, which contrast with paler upper wing coverts. Juvenile: similar to adult except lacks plumes and black on body. All dark crown. Gray face, white throat. White Morph: All white plumage in flight. White head, neck and body. Dark lores, pale eye. Very heavy yellow bill. Buffy legs.

Length: 117 (cm) Wingspan: 183 (cm)

Voice:

Call: Loud, hoarse kraaaack.

Habitat:

Almost any wetlands, or shallow bodies of water. Also found in fields. White-morph found in shallow coastal areas. Uses trees for nesting.

Behavior:

Colony nesters. Forages by slowly stalking prey, then grabbing it with bill, swallowing food whole. During winter, often seen "mousing" in fields with no standing water.

Feeding:

Diet consists of fish, crayfish, amphibians, small birds, small mammals and invertebrates.