Great Blue Heron look-alikes
Ardea herodias
Spotted a bird? Identify it instantly with the Birdby app
Open the appSeveral birds can be mistaken for the Great Blue Heron. Compare the key differences below to confirm your sighting.
Birds to compare
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Key differences
The Great Egret is entirely white, while the Great Blue Heron is primarily blue-gray. Great Egrets have black legs and a yellow bill (non-breeding) or black bill (breeding), whereas Great Blue Herons have duller, greenish-yellow to dark gray legs and a yellowish-orange bill.
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensis
Key differences
Sandhill Cranes are typically gray with a red patch on the crown. In flight, cranes fly with their necks extended straight out, unlike herons which fly with their necks pulled into an S-shape. Cranes also have a distinctive trumpeting call.
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
Key differences
The Tricolored Heron is much smaller, with a dark blue-gray back, white belly, and a purplish neck. It has a thinner, more pointed bill and yellow legs. Its flight is more agile than the Great Blue Heron's.
Reddish Egret
Egretta rufescens
Key differences
The Reddish Egret has a reddish-brown head and neck, and a dark gray body. It is smaller than the Great Blue Heron and is known for its distinctive 'dancing' foraging behavior. Its bill is pinkish with a black tip.
Explore the Great Blue Heron
Identify birds anywhere
Free on iOS, Android, and Web. Photo & sound identification, full species database, and your personal life list.